National Minority Health Month, originally established in 1915, is in April—a good time to recognize disparities within our health system that communities of color face. More than 100 years later, the Y is a key leader and partner in ensuring that communities of color, who disproportionately suffer from health disparities, have access to health-promoting resources.
This year’s theme is “Give Your Community a Boost!” This theme focuses on the continued importance of COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as one of the strongest tools we can use to protect others from the COVID-19 pandemic that has disproportionately affected communities of color, according to CDC data. As an organization committed to health equity, we’re sharing resources to help raise vaccine confidence while focusing on overcoming barriers to good health.
Visit https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine to find a free vaccination site near you.
Across the country, Ys are providing equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine and supporting communities as they recover from the pandemic. Equitable access can mean numerous things for Ys—from being a pop-up vaccine distribution site, to connecting community members to information and experts.
For more information and resources on #BoostYourCommunity, visit https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/nmhm.