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Dear Friends:
As I mentioned recently, the rate of people receiving the new COVID booster shots is pretty dismal at the moment. A lot of people haven't heard the shots are available, but even the people you might expect to receive boosters, such as the elderly, are lagging where they need to be.
Experts suspect there are a number of factors behind the low rates. One is that after two years of COVID, people are just plain sick of hearing about it, and tune out the latest news, such as that boosters are available. And they may not see the point in getting a booster right now. If they haven't had a booster, and they haven't had COVID recently, it probably seems like something that can be put off for a few days, or a few weeks, or indefinitely.
But we are headed into Wisconsin's indoor season, and looking at a surge in infections. (Admittedly, it's a bit unclear on just how big, or dangerous, that surge will be.) Somehow, we need to convert what the experts call "passive positives"—people aren't opposed to getting vaccinated, but haven't done it—to "active positives," or better yet, the "all done."
How to do that? Katelyn Jetelina suggests the IIFF model:
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Immediate opportunity: the quicker you can make a shot available to someone who agrees to get vaccinated, the better. For example, a doctor or pharmacist can ask patients if they'd like a COVID booster, and provide it while they wait.
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Information about eligibility. Again, a lot of people don't know that they can—or should—get a booster. This is a great way for churches to contribute. Let your members know that everyone over the age of 12 who has got their primary series is now eligible for a bivalent booster.
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Focused attention: helping people break through COVID burnout to process information about vaccination is vital. Churches might hang posters about boosters, for example, or put them in newsletters or use them in announcement slideshows. Follow up with verbal reminders to get boosted—and let people know the quickest way to get it done. I've included handy graphics from DHS to help with this process.
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Favorable activation: even the people who have gotten two shots may not see the benefits of getting a third. Helping them understand why they should get boosted is helpful, again especially if the shots are immediately available. This might work better in a doctor's office, but a church might host a vaccination clinic after worship and make sure to explain benefits of getting boosted during the service.
On this last point, Leana Wen suggests a more selective approach. She argues that while blanket calls to get boosted are appropriate, that approach may be failing to get the job done. Instead, Wen says, it might be more helpful to focus on the people who most need a booster: senior citizens and people with underlying medical conditions.
Be honest with people, Wen counsels. Immunity only lasts for so long, which is why we need boosters. At the same time, the new boosters provide better protection against COVID variants and the severe illness they cause. That might not be such a big deal for people who are otherwise healthy, but for the medically vulnerable, it could literally be the difference between life and death. Likewise, laying this out for a "passive positive" could be the difference between a general interest in getting boosted and actually getting it done.
And there is yet another way to close the gap: good old-fashioned peer pressure. Once a group decides that its norms include vaccination, it becomes just something "we" do, and the incentive is to jump on the bandwagon. Making boosters a point of pride in your community could be immensely helpful.
As well, it can be helpful to point out specific people vaccination protects. The New York Times article referenced above discusses the case of a six-year-old with leukemia unable to receive routine vaccinations. When his parents explained to the other families in his class how important it was that they be vaccinated to protect their son, the community rallied around him and vaccination rates rose dramatically. Putting a face on the need for boosters is a great strategy.
None of this needs to be grim finger-wagging. Joyous, fun occasions with good messages and outreach can bring results. We're all about that, and let us know if you want some help getting there.
One last thing: you have heard of a spike in RSV cases, particularly among children. And of course, fall and winter usually see an increase in flu infections. Get your flu shot, if you haven't already, and it's probably time to think about going back to wearing masks in church, to protect against all manner of airborne disease.
Stay safe and stay together,
Rev. Daniel Schultz
Community Health Program Director
P.S.: Oh, hey, we're still looking for churches willing to talk about chronic disease prevention (such as high blood pressure, cardiac disease, or diabetes)! If you're at all interested—even just to discuss it—please let me know.
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