High Context vs. Low Context Communications Impacting COVID Vaccination Decision

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The COVID pandemic has been disrupted, impacting our lives in various ways. There has been a tremendous effect of COVID in our communities. The type of communication, either high or low context, has played a vital role in people’s COVID vaccination decisions. The communication style can influence how people perceive information among cultures. Communities need to have access to information that is easy to understand because health literacy level of so many people varies. Also, it is paramount to consider the cultural aspects of many communities because all cultures have their own beliefs. Vaccination hesitancy has been one factor that caused high COVID cases.

The decision-making process for vaccination is context-specific and complex. There have been many drivers and barriers that affected people’s vaccination decisions. People’s vaccine decisions might be influenced by their feelings, moral values, belief, and thoughts. The communication method used, how, and who spread the information related to COVID plays a vital role for many communities of color. Communities of color comprehend information that is in their native language more easily. 

“A different language is a different vision of life”. – Federico Fellini

(Milincic, 2020)

High-context communication needs additional information to connect with the context, whereas low-context communication is simple and straightforward. High-context communication makes it more challenging for people to understand the information or messages that they intend to transmit. High-context type of communication method has been used to spread essential information, but it might not achieve the goal due to its content complexity. As we know, when this type of communication is used, it may increase the difficulty of accessing important information related to COVID. Therefore, this causes disparities across communities while grasping valuable information associated with COVID. On the other hand, low context communication works best for people’s understanding due to its simplicity.

Low-Context Communication Examples:

Presenting information in a very scientific and statical way: scientific evidence and statical data indeed support efficacy and safety, and this information makes direct connection with the content. Studies have stated that when information is presented in clear way help to build better understanding .

Using a language that is easy to understand: when information is expressed in a way that is simple, it does not leaves people with confusion and question in mind.

High-Context Communication Examples:

Telling stories: Using stories helps to engage and to convince information that eases individuals’ understanding because the overwhelming scientific evidence and statistical facts are not as compelling as the storytelling strategy. Also, when a story is used to transmit a message, it helps in effectively delivering a message.

Using credible communicators: Communities of color believe when leaders or health workers from their communities transmit information in their language and at the level of their understanding. When most trusted community leaders spread the knowledge, people of that community increasingly accept and trust the information.

Building trust: Studies have shown that trustworthiness acts better than expertise when addressing misinformation.

Connect with people’s values: As we know, vaccination decision is value-based. Connecting with the right people is very influential when we talk about values, and our values help us to make decisions.

The context of communication impacts people’s decisions regarding the COVID vaccine. The vaccine data on the Minnesota Department of Health website provides information about the percentage of race and ethnicity who have been vaccinated. Therefore, choosing the appropriate communication style depending on the audience is vital. As noted above, high context communication needs educational background knowledge to understand the information. However, low context communication is explicitly stated, which makes a better understanding. 

References

COVID-19 Vaccine Data. (n.d.). COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

Milincic A. (2020, November 20). Differences in high-context and low-context communication styles. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/differences-high-context-low-context-communication-styles-milincic . Retrieved September 3, 2022

Singleton, K., & Krause, E. (2009). Understanding cultural and linguistic barriers to health literacy. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(3). https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol142009/No3Sept09/Cultural-and-Linguistic-Barriers-.aspx

UNICEF. (2020). Vaccine Messaging Guide.https://www.unicef.org/media/93661/file/Vaccinemessagingguide.pdf . Retrieved September 3, 2022

Project HEALINGS Article #5: Proud and Healthy How LGTBQIA+ Communities are Supported with COVID Care

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Developed by Asian Media Access, Chinese American Chamber of Commerce – MN, and Spitfire

COVID has changed the lives of many communities. But the LGBTQIA+ community has been left out of many conversations about public health and COVID. Most states, including Minnesota, do not report on COVID statistics for the LGBTQIA+ community.[1] This makes it hard for public health experts to understand the community’s needs and for advocates to get resources. The data gap makes it even more important for public health and advocates to listen directly to the LGBTQIA+ community.  June was Pride Month, a season where the LGTBQIA+ community is celebrated with parades and brand-name ad campaigns. But the LGBTQIA+ community deserves to be seen and supported year-round, especially when it comes to health care and COVID.

Seeing and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community

It is clear that LGBTQIA+ youth have struggled during COVID. LGBTQIA+ people have had higher rates of poverty, houselessness, unemployment, and mental health issues since COVID started.[2] In the LGBTQIA+ community, 74% say that worry and stress about COVID have been bad for their mental health, compared to 49% of people who do not identify as LGBTQIA+.

Tezzaree El-Amin Champion, the executive director of Encouraging Leaders, says COVID made feelings of isolation worse: “The pandemic came on top of the stresses that we deal with on a daily basis like family not being accepting of your sexuality.”

Health care offices should be a safe place where everyone is welcome. But some insurance companies and doctors do not respect LGTBQIA+ people or offer them care. Many LGTBQIA+ youth have had bad health care visits that stop them from continuing to seek health services.

On top of that, difficulties created by COVID – like losing income or housing – also make it harder to get health insurance and trusted, current information about COVID and vaccines.

Finding care in community

Everyone deserves access to quality medical care that respects their gender and sexual identity. And vaccines are an important part of health care. As public health programs work to fight COVID, it is also important to build systems that improve long-term access to health care.

Minnesota organizations like Encouraging Leaders are working toward this goal. They are creating networks of healthcare professionals who provide care for LGTBQIA+ individuals.

Champion explains, “A lot of people are just afraid to go to the hospital or go to a doctor. So, we try our best to create a safe place and connect people to doctors that we consider LGBTQIA+ friendly. We try to customize and personalize the type of services and resources for these individuals.”

Tezzaree, or “Tezzy” as he is known by the youths he mentors, knows that going to a healthcare center can be scary. That is why he is bringing conversations about health to young people. Tezzy and his staff meet young people where they are – in their homes or his office in Minneapolis where they hold information sessions and clinics.

Encouraging Leaders’ work goes beyond vaccines and medical care. They also offer help with mental health, financial literacy, and employment because these also improve wellness. And community is at the center of all of their work. COVID was isolating. To overcome the pandemic, communities need safety measures like masks and vaccines, but individuals also need to reconnect with support networks.  Tezzy and his staff have worked hard to create a “chosen family” by building relationships with young people and trusted doctors. Creating a safe space and consistent medical and social support helps young people make decisions about vaccines when they are ready. Organizations like Encouraging Leaders and Project HEALINGS are here to continue the conversation with the LGBTQIA+ community, during COVID and beyond.

CHANGING TO FIGHT THE VIRUS

All communities deserve clear and trustworthy information about COVID and how to stay safe.

The COVID vaccines are saving lives. They are especially good at preventing severe sickness for people with conditions like diabetes, HIV, asthma, and heart disease. These conditions make it harder to fight off COVID. Vaccines give the body the strength to fight the virus. Vaccines can also help people stay out of the hospital and prevent death.

Understanding safety facts like this can be hard. New information is released every week. It is even harder for unhoused populations and people with limited English to get new information. By the time updates are translated and shared, the information has already changed.

But new information is important. It shows that public health experts are being honest and their advice is effective. Champion shares, “I’m constantly talking with my friends about COVID and what kind of safety measures we are taking. Although guidelines change often, I try to stay up to date because that is the best way to protect myself.”

There have been many “variants” or forms of COVID (like Delta and Omicron) because viruses change over time. So far, each new form of COVID spreads more easily but may cause less serious sickness. This is why information about infections changes.

To keep up with COVID, people have to change too. You would not want to find your way around a new neighborhood with a 50-year-old map. The streets may stay the same, but the details have changed. There are new shops and restaurants to find.

Old information can still inform our decisions, but the newest information will help us find the fastest and safest way out of COVID. The good news is that you do not have to learn this information alone.

[1] Kramer, J. (2021, May 7). In Covid Vaccine Data, L.G.B.T.Q. People Fear Invisibility. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/health/coronavirus-lgbtq.html

[2] COVID-19 and the LGBTQ Community: Vaccinations and the Economic Toll of the Pandemic. (2021). Human Rights Campaign Foundation, PSB Insights. https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/COVID-Vaccines-Brief-030821.pdf

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Project HEALINGS Article #4: Vaccination empowers learning about overall health and wellness

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COVID-19 infection rates have increased and decreased over the past two years as Minnesota faced wave after wave of the virus, but one thing remains the same: Black communities have been hit hard by COVID. Since the pandemic began, Black Minnesotans have died from COVID at more than twice the rate of white Minnesotans.[1] But despite inequities barring the way, community members say there are still ways to rise.

Overlapping challenges

Black communities are facing multiple crises in addition to the pandemic. COVID has exacerbated preexisting issues by worsening working conditions, increasing unemployment, destabilizing finances, and limiting access to high-quality education.

Donnell Bratton, the Senior Pastor of Overcomer’s Victory Church, shares that for Black Minnesotans, 2020 was not just defined by COVID shutdowns.

“We were also impacted by social unrest in the city of Minneapolis, especially around the death of George Floyd…. Everybody was active in this community, doing some work.”

COVID-19 is a serious threat to community wellbeing because it exacerbates existing inequities that communities are working so hard to address. Supporting health literacy and improving access to health care are important parts of the larger work to support Black lives.

Finding the power in healing

While the COVID virus does not discriminate, there is no hiding the fact that the healthcare system reinforces and perpetuates inequities. The US healthcare system has deep roots in racialized practices like the Tuskegee experiment and forced sterilization that weigh heavily on folks like Bratton’s mother.

“My mother grew up in the South in the era of Tuskegee. She didn’t have access to health care until emergencies like polio, when all of a sudden the government came around asking everyone to take vaccines. But most of the time, no one was there to support their health, so many from her generation turned to the church, to God, as a source of comfort and healing. Those beliefs hold strong today.”

Bratton is aware that his mother’s experiences live on in him. Intergenerational trauma has left many in the Black community wary of medical interventions. To cope with this disturbing and violent history, Pastor Bratton has a motto: “I’m not responsible for the trauma, but I have power over my healing.” He notes that while no one can reverse the past, every individual can choose how they prioritize their health and protect against threats to their health and well-being, like COVID, in the present.

Promoting equity and long-term safety

Vaccines are a tool that can help individuals take control of their health. Minnesota’s health department has acknowledged that trustworthy health care has not historically been available to Black communities. So it has worked to make vaccines free and accessible, integrate racial equity as a pillar of its public health policy and collaborate with communities to address concerns.[2]

Time after time, data shows that people who have been vaccinated against COVID are less likely to get seriously ill or die from the virus.[3] Because of this positive outcome, 69% of Black Minnesotans have chosen to get vaccinated as of May 18, 2022.[4]

Taking a day off of work to visit a vaccine clinic and deal with normal side effects can be a hassle, but the vaccine side effects wear off in a couple of days. The alternative — getting COVID — is an extreme health and financial burden that can have serious long-term effects.

Contracting COVID prevents you and those around you from going to work and school for at least five days. Some of the virus’s effects on your health — like shortness of breath and difficulty concentrating — can last months or longer. Everyone has the right to weigh the risks and benefits of preventive measures and choose the path that is right for them.

Overcoming the historical medical trauma experienced by Black communities will take more than scientific facts. Community leaders like Pastor Bratton can be a bridge, but communication has to go both ways. Public health institutions must share important vaccine information, but they must also listen to and learn from Black communities about their experiences and needs. Building a larger conversation about health literacy and healthcare access will make communities stronger and more resilient to future public health crises.

Tools of power and choice

Decisions regarding health and vaccination are personal, but it can be helpful to discuss with trusted friends and family members around the dinner table. Pastor Bratton often raises discussions about health in church because it is a center for community and healing.

“Pastors and spiritual leaders play a role in educating and guiding communities. Whatever your denomination or faith, we share the value of caring for our neighbors. But I also want you to know that caring for yourself and your health is equally important for the spirit. We believe in God even though we’ve never seen him. We can’t see COVID, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. It has caused a lot of suffering in our community that could have been prevented with masks, social distancing, and other preventive measures.”

The pastor emphasizes that everyone was born with the gift of choice, and he encourages folks to use that power to make good decisions about their health. It is everyone’s right to question and learn about COVID and ways to avoid serious illness. Taking control of individual health can help folks get back to church, work, school, and advocacy in person. Community organizations like Project HEALINGS are here to continue the conversation with communities and are working to make sure that healthcare equity improves for COVID-19 and beyond.

[1] 0.35% compared to 0.16% respectively as of May 11th, 2022. Minnesota Department of Health. (2022). Data by Race/Ethnicity. COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://mn.gov/covid19/data/data-by-race-ethnicity/index.jsp

[2] Peters, J. (2021, May 21). Minnesota’s vaccine equity director, Dr. Nathan Chomilo, has a lot of inequity to fix. Sahan Journal. http://sahanjournal.com/health/minnesota-vaccine-race-equity-chomilo/

[3] Study shows COVID-19 vaccines offer lasting protections. (2022, January 12). UNC News. https://uncnews.unc.edu/2022/01/12/study-shows-covid-19-vaccines-offer-lasting-protection/

Katella, K. (n.d.). Comparing the COVID-19 Vaccines: How Are They Different? Yale Medicine. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison

[4] Minnesota Department of Health. (2022). COVID-19 Vaccine Data. COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/data/index.jsp

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Project HEALINGS Article #3: Vaccines protect pregnancy and privacy – find out how

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Developed by Asian Media Access, Chinese American Chamber of Commerce – MN, and Spitfire

Minnesota’s Latine communities have been on the frontline of COVID-19 since the beginning. Many work in essential jobs, including agriculture, meatpacking, restaurants, healthcare, and construction. Latine-owned businesses that provide important services to the community have also been hit hard by lockdowns for over two years now.[1]

These essential jobs helped keep us all going throughout the pandemic but also put workers at high risk for COVID. Vaccines can help.

The 2020 Census shows that 6.1% of Minnesota’s population identifies as Latine and has origins in many different places. Vaccines are not new to Latine communities. Many countries in Latin America have strong vaccination programs against tuberculosis (TB), polio, and other viruses.

As of April 27, 2022, 72.9% of Hispanic people in Minnesota had already taken the COVID vaccine, says the Minnesota Department of Health.[2] The high rate of vaccination has helped reduce major illness and death. In April 2021, Hispanic individuals were 1.3 times more likely to get infected, 3 times more likely to be hospitalized, and 2 times more likely to die from COVID than non-Hispanic white people.[3] Data from April 2022 shows that fewer people are now suffering thanks to vaccines.[4]

Protecting family and pregnancy

Families are the core of Latine communities. Families are a strong source of support, health advice, and care. Because COVID-19 spreads easily, individual health decisions have a big impact on the whole family. As families grow, it is important to think about ways to keep everyone safe.

This is especially true for pregnant women and babies. When pregnant, the baby’s health is often the top priority. It is natural to be worried about what you put in your body during pregnancy and have questions about the COVID vaccine.

The vaccine helps keep pregnant mothers and babies healthy. Research shows the vaccine is safe. Vaccines do not harm a woman’s ability to have children or cause problems during pregnancy. Pregnant women are at higher risk for hospitalization and death from COVID-19. The virus also increases the risk of stillbirth and premature birth. The vaccine can help prevent these dangers.

Rodolfo Gutierrez, a Minnesotan and the Executive Director of the HACER research group, adds, “Research shows that babies are even vaccinated themselves through their mothers during pregnancy.”    One study from the American Medical Association found that when pregnant women get vaccinated, they pass on some immunity to babies in their womb, protecting them from illness for a period of time after they are born.[5] Other data shows that getting fully vaccinated during pregnancy can help stop infants from being hospitalized with COVID.[6]

Vaccine safety and privacy

The technology used in the vaccine was researched for decades before COVID-19 even came around. Plus, the vaccines have already been used for over a year. Since vaccines were approved in late 2020, authorities have gathered more data and continued to monitor vaccine safety. This research confirms that vaccines are safe and effective.

Vaccines stop people from getting seriously ill and needing to go to the hospital about 90% of the time. The vaccine’s protection lasts many months. Vaccines also help people who have already gotten COVID to avoid getting very sick again.[7]

The state of Minnesota supports everyone’s right to get vaccinated and be protected from COVID-19. You do not need insurance or any documentation to get vaccines.

Gutierrez remembers, “Early on, there were some cases where pharmacists asked for IDs to register patients and search for insurance. This had a negative impact on our community because some people were rejected from getting the vaccine. But the state intervened to remind vaccine distributors that they cannot turn people away.”

Authorities have worked to make sure everyone can get vaccinated with or without documentation, and pharmacies have changed their practices so they do not ask for IDs.

The vaccination system also has security measures that protect your privacy. Vaccine information can only be used for general public health data. Immigration authorities cannot access vaccine information or go near vaccination or testing sites.

Care in your language and community

It can be difficult to find health information in Spanish and other indigenous languages of Latin America. So, Latine communities are organizing to help each other access the care they need. Organizations like Project HEALINGS, HACER, and local news programs are working to share COVID resources in Spanish. This is helpful to Spanish-speaking people living in Minnesota, including migrant workers who traveled here to help with worker shortages.

COVID-19 has made the last two years scary and overwhelming. But you can take control of your health and protect your community by learning more about the vaccine. Doctors and nurses are ready to answer your questions and ease your worries. So, keep asking questions and talking with family members and friends about their vaccine experience. That will help you decide whether vaccines are right for you and your family. For more information, visit projecthealings.info.

[1] Gutierrez, R., Hawkins, J., Higuera, J. P., Linscheid, N., Tuck, B., & Hernandez-Swanson, J. (2020). Impacto del COVID-19 en las empresas de propiedad de latinos en Minnesota. Hispanic Advocacy Community Empowerment through Research, University of Minnesota Extension.

[2] COVID-19 Vaccine Data. (n.d.). COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

[3] Gabilondo-Scholz, A. I. (2021, April 14). Racial inequities faced by MN Latino community during pandemic | Blue Cross MN. Blue Cross Blue Shield MN.

[4] Weekly COVID-19 Report 4/28/2022. (2022). Minnesota Department of Health.

[5] Shook, L. L., Atyeo, C. G., Yonker, L. M., Fasano, A., Gray, K. J., Alter, G., & Edlow, A. G. (2022). Durability of Anti-Spike Antibodies in Infants After Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination or Natural Infection. JAMA, 327(11), 1087–1089.

[6] Halasa NB, Olson SM, Staat MA, et al. Effectiveness of Maternal Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization in Infants Aged <6 Months — 17 States, July 2021–January 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:264–270.

[7] Kimberlee, D. K. D.. (2022, March 31). COVID-19 vaccines reduce hospitalization, death in people with prior infection, study finds. News Center.

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Project HEALINGS Article #2: Vaccines protect our families

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Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in Minnesota face increasing health challenges from COVID-19. Asians make up 5% of the Minnesota population but 8% of critical COVID hospital cases. As of April 2022, over 63,900 Asians have gotten COVID in Minnesota alone, and over 470 died from it, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

We often talk about an Asian American Pacific Islander community, but there are many different communities with Asian and Pacific Islander heritages in Minnesota. The Coalition of Asian American Leaders reports that COVID was the top cause of death for Hmong, Karen, and Karenni Minnesotans in 2020. 29% of Hmong, Karen, and Karenni deaths in Minnesota were from COVID compared to 11% of deaths among white Minnesotans. Overall, half of Asian Minnesotans who died from COVID were Hmong. This suggests that public health programs are not effectively supporting and reaching diverse AAPI communities.

Asian cultural beliefs about wellness

Many Asian cultures have customs and beliefs that help them protect communities from viruses like COVID. For example, many Asian cultures put community and family first. This has encouraged social distancing and wearing masks. Those actions help stop the spread of COVID.

Asian philosophies of health and medicine have a long and well-tested history. For example, practitioners have been developing and improving acupuncture for over 4,000 years.

Asian medicine differs from Western approaches that focus on treating specific diseases and symptoms. Asian medical practices often support whole-body wellness and try to bring the body into balance with the environment. This can mean eating and sleeping well, exercising, and adjusting to the season.

Using natural ingredients and processes is also central to many Asian medicine practices. For example, herbal medicines are often the first choice for treatment. The preference for natural solutions is one reason why many AAPI people choose to naturally build immunity instead of getting vaccinated.

Natural remedies are great for staying healthy long-term, but COVID poses a severe and immediate danger. Extra efforts are needed to stay safe, and vaccines can make a big difference.

Ange Hwang, a Minnesotan and Executive Director of Asian Media Access , shared, “Last year was my first time to take the initiative to get the seasonal flu shot along with COVID-19 vaccine shots. I usually feel safe even catching the flu, with a couple days of rest, I would recover. But the speed of COVID-19 spreading and the severe sickness it caused alerted me to get vaccination ASAP to better protect myself and my family.”

Far from being unnatural, vaccines support your body to build immunity in the same way as if you got the real COVID. Vaccines train your body to fight COVID and naturally build an immune response. Getting COVID causes many dangerous reactions in your body. But vaccines allow you to build immunity in a safe and predictable way.

Care for children

COVID can also be very dangerous for children and can cause lasting health problems. Since August 2021, ⅕ of COVID cases have been kids. More and more kids are also going to the hospital because of the virus. Vaccines help protect children. The Pfizer vaccine is safe and available for children 5 years old and up. It comes in two doses that were designed for kids ages 5-11 and 12-17.

Many Asian parents are worried about whether the vaccine dose is safe for their small children and why the vaccine doses are by age and not weight. Weight is important when giving the right amount of medicine (like Tylenol). Medicines work when a certain level makes its way through the bloodstream. But vaccines don’t work the same way because vaccines do not contain drugs.

Vaccines work by turning on the immune system. So, the most important factor is how quickly a child’s immune system reacts. This depends on the development of a child’s body. Development depends on age, not size. That is why the vaccine doses are adjusted to age. Puberty starts at around 12 years old. This is when children have many hormonal and developmental changes. That is why 12 years was chosen as the cutoff between the two vaccine doses.

The vaccine was tested on 3,100 children of all races, including 90 Asian children. It was approved because it does not cause any serious safety issues for kids. Being fully vaccinated (2-3 doses) is important for maintaining strong immunity. Kids aged 5-11 group are severely under-vaccinated. On April 27, 2022, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that 42 percent of kids in this age group have received a dose of the COVID vaccine, and only 38 percent are fully vaccinated.

Community safety

Staying safe is an individual, family, and community effort. When more people get vaccinated, it becomes more difficult for the virus to spread. That’s why vaccines are about community well-being as much as personal health. Creating strong immunity in the whole community is important for protecting older adults and people with other health problems. Getting vaccinated honors your responsibility to family and community wellness. Doctors and nurses are ready to answer your questions and ease your worries. So, keep asking questions and talking with family members and friends about their vaccine experience. That will help you decide whether vaccines are right for you and your family. For more information, visit projecthealings.info.

REFERENCE:

* A Race to Close the Disproportionate COVID-19 Death Rates in Minnesota’s Asian Community. (2021). Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Hmong Public Health Association, Southeast Asia Resource Center, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. * Situation Update for COVID-19—Minnesota Dept. Of Health. Retrieved April 28, 2022. * www.amamedia.org * COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 28, 2022, from Gurtman, A. (2021, November 2). BNT162b2 (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) Vaccine –in Individuals 5 to <12 Years of Age. * COVID-19 Vaccine Data. (2022, April 27). COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota

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Project HEALINGS Article #1: What Are Vaccines?

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Everyone has made changes in our lives because of COVID-19. Our daily routines are different, like working or learning from home, wearing masks, or staying six feet away from our friends and relatives.

One of the tools for keeping our communities safe from COVID-19 is the vaccine. Vaccines are like a seatbelt for our immune system. The immune system is the body’s defense system to fight off sickness and keep us healthy. Just like we wear seatbelts to stay safe in case of a car crash, getting vaccinated helps keep us healthy when viruses like COVID-19 spread.

Vaccines work by training our body’s immune system to fight sickness. If we do catch the virus, our bodies can react faster. That protects us from getting very sick or needing to go to the hospital.

When our body knows how to fight a virus, that is called immunity. Vaccines give lots of people immunity, which means the virus cannot spread as easily through the population. When viruses spread, they can change into new forms. Vaccines help stop viruses from changing into new forms that cause more harm.

Vaccines have helped communities fight viruses for more than 100 years. Vaccines fought off smallpox, measles, and polio and are the main reason these deadly viruses are not common today.  Building off of the experience with smallpox and other viruses, scientists developed safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19. The technology and ingredients used in the COVID-19 vaccines were researched for decades.

Three companies (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) developed COVID-19 vaccines that are safe and effective. The vaccine ingredients are similar to food ingredients. They are made up of mNRA, fats, sugars, and salts. Like food, the vaccine ingredients leave your body after they have done their job.

mRNA is the ingredient that makes the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work. mRNA is a molecule that gives the immune system instructions about how to fight the virus. These harmless molecules allow our immune systems to practice fighting COVID-19 and build a strong defense.

 Pfizer-BioNTechModernaJohnson & Johnson
Active ingredient:mRNAmRNAVector (deactivated piece of virus that helps the immune system build a defense)
For ages:5+18+18+
Doses:2 + boosters2 + booster1 + booster
Effectiveness:95%95%67%

Each of the vaccines went through three strict periods of research and testing to make sure they are safe and effective. Each vaccine also received two approvals. One was from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agency in charge of making sure medicines are safe. The other was from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. These are medical and health experts who develop guidelines for safely using vaccines.

Since the vaccines were approved in December 2020, 255+ million people in the United States have taken them. That is why it is now safer to return to school and work. It is also safer to see our loved ones in person.  Getting vaccinated is free and easy. Local clinics, pharmacies, and healthcare centers in your community provide vaccines at no cost. You do not need health insurance or an ID to get one.

After getting the shot, it is normal to feel a little sick. You might have soreness in your arm, headaches, tiredness, muscle pain, chills, fever, or nausea. These are signs the vaccine is working. Your body is learning how to fight the virus.

COVID-19 is especially dangerous for older people and people with other health problems. Their bodies cannot fight off viruses very well. Vaccinations can help these people stay safe from the virus. If you have someone in your family who is older or has a health problem, getting vaccinated protects their health and your own.

COVID-19 has made the last two years scary and overwhelming. But you can take control of your health and protect your community by learning more about the vaccine. Doctors and nurses are ready to answer your questions and ease your worries. So, keep asking questions and talking with family members and friends about their vaccine experience. That will help you decide whether vaccines are right for you and your community. For more information, visit projecthealings.info.

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Cultural Medicine

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When it comes to cultural medicine, we have to mention chinese medicine and western medicine. This article will analyze these two culture that the differences. The following points are some of my personal views.

Traditional Chinese medicine has been practiced in China for thousands of years. traditional Chinese medicine, is a label that covers a broad range of traditional medicine practices spread throughout Asia, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, and dietary therapy. In the past decade, there have been intensive debates in China about the nature of this ancient practice and its future development. Some critics argue that Traditional Chinese medicine theories are inaccurate descriptions of the human body that verge on imagination, and so have no place in modern healthcare systems. Other, however, say that Traditional Chinese medicine has a lot to offer to Western science and medicine and that emerging analytical tools hold great potentials in bridging the gap between the two worlds with contrasting philosophy and approaches.

Western medicine is the term used to describe the treatment of medical conditions with medications, by doctors, nurses and other conventional healthcare providers who employ methods developed according to Western medical and scientific traditions. Other names for Western medicine include traditional medicine or allopathic medicine. It differs from Eastern, or alternative, medicine, in its approach to treatment, which relies heavily upon industrially produced medications and a strict adherence to the formal scientific process.

A Chinese medicine doctor treats illness by the way of generalization, emphasis entirety and dialectical treatment, so some people view it as holistic medicine. A western medicine doctor treats illness by the symptoms. For instance, if you have a sore throat, the western medicine doctor consider it as a throat problem, while a Chinese medicine doctor may link it to your stomach trouble.An objective comparison of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine is necessary to further evaluate the validity of Oriental medical techniques such as acupuncture. The development of medicine in Western nations follows the way of hypothetical deduction and the Eastern approach uses the inductive method. The Western approach clearly divides the health from the disease, yet the Eastern approach considers health as a balanced state versus disease as an unbalanced state. The Western approach tends to change the environment and the Eastern way is to prefer to adapt to the environment. There are numerous difficulties in comparing these two approaches. The same terminology may apply to entirely different facts, the teaching and learning methods are quite different, and the evaluation of the treatment is almost not comparable.

Cultural Stories

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To Borrow Arrows with Thatche ‘d Boats

This is an episode from the Three Kingdoms. Zhou Yu ordered Zhuge Liang to manufacture 100,000 arrows within ten days. Zhuge said,“Give me three days.” He also signed a pledge placing himself liable for punishment should he fail to complete the order. Zhou Yu ridiculed that Zhuge Liang was looking for self-destruction.On the one hand, Zhou Yu ordered his troops not to provide Zhuge Liang with materials to make the arrows.He also sent Lu Su to spy on him to find out what was going on. In fact, Zhuge Liang had already realized that this was a plots room, Zhuge said to Lu Su,“Save me please.” He asked Lu Su to lend him 20 boats, each lined with straw-made scarecrows and manned by 30 soldiers. He requested that Lu Su not tell Zhou Yu what was happening.

When Lu Su came again to see Zhuge Liang he did not find anything unusual. Nothing happened on the second day either. In the small hours of the third day that Zhuge Liang invited Lu Su for a boat ride. The 20 boats were tied together with strong ropes. Zhuge’s fleet sailed toward the camp of Cao Cao. A thick mist had spread over the surface of the river. People could hardly see each other on the river. When Zhuge’s fleet got close to the Cao Cao camp before dawn, Zhuge Liang ordered his soldiers to shout and beat drums to fake an attack. Zhuge and Lu Su simply sat inside one of the boats and drank wine to enjoy themselves. As soon as the Cao Cao camp heard the shouting and drum beating, they mistook it for a surprise attack by the Zhou Yu camp. Since they could see nobody on the river, they gathered 3,000 bow men and ordered them to shoot arrows towards where the shouting and drum beating came. The front of the scarecrows was quickly shot full of arrows. After a while, Zhuge Liang had his fleet turned around to expose the other side of the scarecrows. When this side was also shot full of arrows when the day broke. Zhuge Liang ordered his soldiers to retire. Zhuge Liang got the 100,000 arrows and solved the shortage of military supplies.

Feelings on Coming to the United States

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The first day I came to the United States, my biggest feeling is that Americans are very enthusiastic and friendly. At the airport, everyone took the initiative to help us, seeing that we were holding the fast track sign and letting us move forward. It was very late when I arrived in the Minneapolis / Saint Paul airport. The host family took the sign to pick me up. They asked me if I was tired and hungry, and I felt very enthusiastic. When we arrived at the host family’s house, they introduced me to the layout of the home, which was great. The next day, the host family took me to their church and introduced me to many of their friends. Those who I was not introduced to would greet me on their own initiative.

   Although I have only been here for a few days, I can also feel some differences between the United States and China.

   First, in terms of religious beliefs. Most Americans believe in religion and believe in God. According to Christian beliefs, every person is the son of God. Christianity pays attention to fraternity, and this value is also reflected in the relationship between people. Christianity emphasizes that human happiness stems from the grace of God. However, only a minority in China believes in Christianity.

    Second, in terms of friendship. The education of Chinese people is usually to avoid direct conflicts, open criticism, and controversial topics.They want to maintain harmony among people around them and leave ”faces” for others; on the contrary, Americans are usually willing to face problems directly, criticize, discuss controversial issues, and insist on what they consider to be ”facts”.

  Third, in the terms of living habits.  Lifestyle choices between the United States and China are also different. For example, Americans like to use forks and knives when eating, Chinese people generally use chopsticks; Americans like to eat burgers, Chinese people like to eat dumplings, Americans usually like to bathe in the morning, Chinese people prefer to take a shower at night, etc.

    Although there are many cultural differences between the United States and China, there are still many things that I need to learn. There are many places that China needs to learn from. We learn from each other and believe that we will do better in the future.

Feelings on Bicultural Healthy Living

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Nowadays, Bicultural Healthy Living is more and more popular all over the world. As a Chinese volunteer, I feel honored to experience the two cultures of the United States and China, which are quite different from each other.

As far as diet is concerned, most Chinese food is fried and boiled, while after spending time with native people in the United States, I found the food is mostly roasted. American people eat fresh vegetable salad to add vitamins but Chinese people prefer scrambled eggs with tomatoes or fried cabbage.They like butter or cheese but Chinese people like salt or sauce to make food delicious. I think we should use a small amount of salt or cheese to supplement the protein needed for one day. In addition, Chinese people usually drink hot water not cold water to promote metabolism in the body. People go to the restaurant to eat, where warm water is generally available.

When it comes to living habit, different people hold different attitudes. From my point of view, in China, people use slippers at home and don’t like to walk barefoot on the marble floor at home otherwise they will feel the cold into the body and think it is uncomfortable. But in the United States, people like to walk barefoot on the wooden floor at home. In order to keep biculturally healthy, I would recommend that keep your feet warm in winter and comfortable in summer.

In America, I think most people regard cars as main transportation.They just drive their cars to go sightseeing or order food at McDonald’s. However, in China, especially in Beijing, because of the large population, some vehicles are restricted to travel to control traffic jam, which depends on number plates. A lot of people walk to and take the subway or go to a bus stop. Sometimes buses and subways are more convenient. In my opinion, bicycles are also great ways to get around and keep fit. If the destination is far away, we can choose to drive, if the road is closer, riding a bicycle is better.