After almost 4 months of official stay at home orders in the US, and many other countries around the world, the US is slowly emerging from isolation.  Many people are returning to activities that were unavailable or prohibited due to the COVID-19 pandemic health protocols. Even with the reopening of many stores and activities, we need to continue following several safety protocols as we return to normal routines/or the new normal.

Experts recommend engaging in activities while continuing to follow previous safety protocols (wearing masks, frequent hand washing, physical distancing, etc.). Reconnecting with friends and family can help us manage our mental health during this transition.  We must also remember our physical health, and this should remain a top priority.  To that end, people need to get back on track with their medical appointments and attend to other personal healthcare issues that were paused due to health protocols.

Many vulnerable populations have been impacted due to delays in care while we tried to flatten the curve of exposure during the first wave of COVID-19. One example is that many individuals delayed going into their doctor’s offices, resulting in a lag in receiving timely immunizations. Many of these immunizations protect people against vaccine preventable diseases such as diphtheria, chickenpox and rubella.

In a recent report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warned about plummeting pediatric vaccination rates across the nation. According to the CDC, this issue is not only affecting infants, but similar trends are also expected for adults as well. This is concerning, because if vaccination rates decrease, it is likely that we will see an uptick in the number of vaccine preventable diseases, making individuals more susceptible to serious illness if they contract COVID-19 along with another vaccine preventable illness.

As the pandemic evolved, people focused on preventive methods to avoid contracting the virus that we do not yet have an effective way to ward off. Even though scientists are working to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, that process takes time. While we wait to see if a COVID-19 vaccine can be developed, we can’t afford to allow other vaccine preventable diseases to become problematic.

Some of the vaccine preventable diseases can vastly affect a person’s lungs. By using vaccines to prevent these diseases, we can aid in reducing the chances of serious complications if a person contracts COVID-19, especially in vulnerable populations like older adults. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) highly recommends the use of vaccines against respiratory illness such as the flu and pneumococcal disease to protect patients’ health.

The delays in vaccination treatments during this pandemic were spurred mainly because many doctors’ offices simply shut down during the pandemic, or only offered tele-health appointments. The delay in receiving vaccines was also affected by physical distancing orders, other health protocols, and a fear of people to visit hospitals and doctors’ offices during stay at home orders. These concerns are understandable but at the same time worrisome.

As things are opening and returning to a new normal, it is the perfect time to catch up. While the idea of heading to a doctor’s office when you’re not sick may seem daunting or potentially risky, we’ve heard from physicians, in all states, about the measurements they are taking to keep patients safe.

Some of the new arrangements include fewer appointments and eliminating time spent in waiting rooms. Clinics are also equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), many are taking patient’s temperatures at the door, clinic staff are engaging in rigorous cleaning protocols and optimal maintenance of the health facilities between patient appointments. 

As an organization dedicated to the health and well-being of Hispanic older adults, we urge you, your families, and caregivers to act now to protect yourself from vaccine preventable diseases. With the physical distancing recommendations still in place, getting an appointment may take more time. Don’t wait until fall when flu and pneumonia season kick into high gear.  That is already a time that is of greater risk for our population, and they suspect it will also be a time of resurgence of COVID-19 cases. 

Lower vaccination rates are already a problem in our community.  Data shows that Hispanic adults are 30 percent less likely to be vaccinated against the flu compared to non-Hispanic whites and this is the same exact scenario for other preventable diseases.

We cannot let this go on –especially at a time when personal health is of the utmost importance. We urge you to call your doctor, contact your healthcare provider., or go to your local pharmacy to ensure you are up to date on your vaccines. It is necessary to take these preventive steps now, so we do not see an additional rise in the rates of illnesses in our community.