{"id":24753,"date":"2021-03-21T18:06:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-21T18:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=24753"},"modified":"2021-03-22T12:39:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-22T12:39:32","slug":"4-steps-to-reaching-bidens-goal-of-a-july-4th-with-much-greater-freedom-from-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/4-steps-to-reaching-bidens-goal-of-a-july-4th-with-much-greater-freedom-from-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"4 steps to reaching Biden’s goal of a July 4th with much greater freedom from COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

David R. Holtgrave<\/a>, University at Albany, State University of New York<\/a><\/em>; Amy Lauren Fairchild<\/a>, The Ohio State University<\/a><\/em>, and Cheryl Healton<\/a>, New York University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden set a goal<\/a> for the U.S. to have COVID-19 under enough control by summer that Americans can celebrate July 4th with family and friends, at least in small gatherings. Important in achieving this goal is another presidential request: that all U.S. adults be made eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations<\/a> by May 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are public<\/a> health<\/a> deans<\/a> who lead a variety of COVID-19 response efforts and are involved in public policy discussions. At a time when the nation is weary of hearing \u201cno, you can\u2019t,\u201d we believe that thinking<\/a> in terms of<\/a> harm reduction<\/a> \u2013 offering safer but not necessarily risk-free alternatives \u2013 is crucial<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harm reduction strategies are in use all around you<\/a>. Seat belts and air bags are perhaps the most widespread harm reduction strategy for a leading cause of death in the U.S.<\/a> Designated driver programs represent a harm reduction technique to reduce alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Another well-known example is the use of sterile syringe exchange services<\/a> to help prevent HIV infection among people who inject drugs while also creating an important pathway for them to access client-centered medical and social services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central to harm reduction strategies is meeting someone where they are<\/a>, without judgment, yet with support and practical pathways for improving health and wellness. It\u2019s relevant today<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are four steps we believe are necessary to achieve the president\u2019s Independence Day goal and a major national population health milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get the vaccine and help others get vaccinated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vaccination is a classic harm reduction measure<\/a> \u2013 it may not eliminate risk, but it vastly reduces it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People can both commit to getting the vaccine<\/a> and to assisting others in the community to get vaccinated. They can volunteer at vaccination events via the Medical Reserve Corps<\/a>. Family members can help each other monitor for available vaccine time slots and navigate the sometimes challenging systems to get appointments<\/a>. Businesses and governmental agencies can allow employees paid time off<\/a> to get vaccinated. Faith communities<\/a> can also encourage people to get vaccinated and provide welcoming sites for doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Role models can make a difference, too. Recently, four former presidents and first ladies<\/a> got their vaccine injections on camera and implored U.S. residents to do the same. On March 16, former President Donald Trump also urged people to get the vaccine<\/a> in an interview on Fox. We consider this important at a time when nearly half of Republican men<\/a> say they will not get vaccinated, according to a PBS News Hour\/NPR\/Marist poll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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