Shutdown at the Shops
World Class Barbers was hopping on that Saturday in 2020 before the COVID-19 shutdown. Colorado Black Health Collaborative volunteers were there checking blood pressures and educating the clients. Earlier that morning student volunteers mentioned that their school had stopped all extracurricular activities due to COVID-19. We laughed and shrugged. Surely the school was being overly cautious. We were content to wait and see what would happen next. The next week the state shutdown. People were told to stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We had to shutdown our efforts at the shops.
Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Early in the COVID-19 story, social media claimed that Black people couldn’t get it. Then when data became available it was clear that Blacks were in fact disproportionately impacted. We had been posting articles to dispel myths and share information. The local community started reaching out to Colorado Black Health Collaborative to see what more we could do. “We are too busy, already,” was our retort. However, the community kept knocking and the knocks were getting louder. We knew we had to shift our priorities. We then became COVID-19 warriors. We developed a microsite, flowdenver.org, dedicated to COVID -19 information and resources. We ramped up and did as much as we could to educate about this deadly virus. We stressed the public health practices of physical distancing, handwashing, and wearing a mask. We passed out masks on the bus. Initially no vaccines were available so we were forced to wait and see when a vaccine would be available to alter the course of this virus.
Vaccine, Vaccine
December 2020 the COVID-19 vaccine became available. We started getting calls and emails asking where people could get vaccinated. Colorado Black Health Collaborative delivered messages about the vaccine on our website and webinars, volunteered at vaccination events, attended community events, shared at the SHOPS, and developed communication campaigns to encourage our people to get vaccinated. Importantly, we listened and learned from the community. The historical mistreatment of the Black community in many aspects of American life is real. We understood this fact. We heard some of the misinformation traveling through social media, telephone lines, and in the streets. We worked to counter this.
Why Wait and See?
Check out Colorado Black Health Collaborative’s latest video, Why Wait and See? We provide information and a perspective to consider if you have not been vaccinated. We would love to hear your thoughts! We are here to serve and to be supportive of our community. What do you think about the video?
The Choice is Yours
Colorado Black Health Collaborative recognizes that some people are just not going to get the COVID-19 vaccine. We do encourage as many people as possible to get the vaccine. As Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett says, getting the COVID-19 vaccination is community service. In the end though, it is a personal choice. What did you choose to do?