COVID News

Grand Rapids African American Health Institute Plans New Programs and Services After Receiving Federal Grant

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Grand Rapids, Mich. (Dec. 19, 2022) – The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI)announced today it has received a $1 million grant through the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). GRAAHI was one of 30 grant recipients out of a total of 300 area applicants selected to receive funding by Kent County.

“We are pleased the Kent County administration and commission recognizes the important work GRAAHI provides in this community and has chosen to support our future efforts,” said Vanessa Greene, GRAAHI CEO. “As the leading health equity advocate for African Americans in greater Grand Rapids, we plan to use this federal funding to increase health-related resources for our residents and build on our efforts to make access to healthcare more equitable for all.”

Investing in new and existing mental and physical health programs for local communities was consistently described as “the first priority” in federal, state, and Kent County’s plans for spending ARPA funds. As part of its application process, GRAAHI presented plans to expand our services and impact in these areas. Specifically:

  1. Expanding and enhancing mental health navigation services for Kent County’s BIPOC residents.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: At least 500 African American residents of Kent County whose mental health needs have developed or been exacerbated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be connected annually to mental health services to regain their optimal level of physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning during the 4-year project period.
  1. Expanding and enhancing the representation of BIPOC professionals in Kent County’s healthcare workforce.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Increase representation of African American and Latinx individuals in the Kent County healthcare workforce by engaging an additional 200-300 students annually from 2023-2026.
  1. Launching a maternal and infant health community navigation program to serve BIPOC individuals and families in Kent County at high risk of disparate pregnancy outcomes.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Significantly reduce the high and disparate rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity from all causes in Kent County’s BIPOC communities.
  1. Expanding and enhancing the Restoring Health program that serves senior citizens in Kent County whose health deteriorated as a result of the social isolation and medical experiences they endured during the COVID-19 epidemic.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: To serve 300 or more BIPOC adults 65 and older in Kent County each year who were adversely impacted by COVID-19 and/or whose health and wellbeing are now deteriorating or are at risk of deteriorating as a result of chronic conditions, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and/or social isolation.
  1. Organizing and directing county-wide blood drives with a focus on sickle cell patients.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Expand our outreach to over 100 repeat blood donors in Kent County annually, each donating four times per year, resulting in over 1200 lives saved.

“This grant is both an investment in our community’s future health and a validation of the past work by GRAAHI over the past 20 years,” said Paul Doyle, GRAAHI Board Chair. “Since being established in 2002, GRAAHI has worked to improve access to healthcare for marginalized populations, provided health services to uninsured residents and improved the overall wellness of Black and Brown populations in the greater Grand Rapids area. This grant validates our work and sets the foundation for an even greater impact in the coming years.”

Recently our CEO, Vanessa Greene, spoke with Shelley Irwin at WGVU. Listen here.

COVID Vaccines for Small Children – What you need to know.

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After multiple delays, very young children are finally eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. In mid-June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years, as well as to Moderna’s vaccine for kids ages 6 months to 6 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) soon after recommended the vaccines, which are now available.

Understandably, parents of small children are hesitant to get their children vaccinated without knowing the risks and benefits. 

Both vaccines are safe and effective

The Moderna vaccine primary series for children 6 months through 5 years old is administered in two 25-microgram doses given four to eight weeks apart. The shots were about 40–50% effective at preventing milder Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infections in young children. Moderna expects children in this age group to be offered a booster dose at some point in time. 

The Pfizer vaccine primary series for children 6 months to 4 years old is administered in  three 3-microgram doses. The first and second doses are separated by three to eight weeks and the second and third doses are separated by at least eight weeks. Three doses of the Pfizer vaccine were shown to be 80% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19.  

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were shown to have similar side effects, which included pain at the injection site, irritability, drowsiness and fever. 

Here are some common questions, with answers provided by the Kent County Health Department:

  • Is it a problem for my child to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?
    • No, children and teens may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same time.  Because children may experience pain at the site where the shot is given, however, you should think about the number of shots you want your child to have at one time.
  • What kind of side effects should I worry about after my child gets the vaccine?
    • Any vaccine can cause side effects. These are usually minor (for example, a sore arm or low-grade fever) and go away within a few days.  The COVID-19 vaccine is no different.  If your child has any of the following after getting their vaccine, however, you should call or visit a doctor:
      • Breathing fast or having trouble breathing
      • Chest Pain
      • A fast or irregular heartbeat
      • Fainting
      • A high fever with spasms or jerky movements (seizures)
      • A swollen tongue or throat
      • A rash or hives on their body
  • Should my child get the vaccine if they have allergies?
    • Children with an allergy to food, latex or things in the environment (pollen, pets, bug bites, etc.) can get the COVID-19 vaccine.  Serious allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine have been very rare, especially among children.
  • Will my child act any differently after getting the vaccine?
    • Your child will likely complain that their arm hurts where the shot was given.  They may also feel tired, not want to eat and be more irritable and cry more than usual.  This shouldn’t last longer than a day. 
  • Why should my child get the COVID-19 vaccine?
    • Vaccinating children protects them when participating in childcare, school, and other activities.  It’s hard to predict how a child’s body will respond if they are infected with COVID-19.  Most kids will do well, but some get very sick and need to visit the hospital.  Getting the vaccine is the best way to help prevent this.
  • What’s the difference between the two vaccines for kids under 5 years old?
    • Both vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection.  The main difference is that the Pfizer vaccine is 3 doses and the Moderna vaccine is 2 doses.  The most important choice is the one to have your child vaccinated.
  • Will the COVID-19 vaccine affect my child if they have diabetes or sickle cell disease?
    • There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine negatively impacts children with diabetes or sickle cell disease.  In fact, it is especially important for children with these conditions to be vaccinated as they are more likely to get severe COVID-19 if they are infected.
  • My child is 4 years old.  Should I wait until they are 5 to get vaccinated with the vaccine for 5-11 year olds?
    • It takes some time to be considered fully protected after getting vaccinated (6 weeks for the Moderna vaccine and 13 weeks for the Pfizer vaccine).  So that your child is fully protected as soon as possible, it is best not to wait and to get them vaccinated now.

You may still have more questions, so we encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider/pediatrician to determine what is the most appropriate action for your family.  

Need to get your child vaccinated?
GRAAHI is offering multiple free, local vaccine clinics.  To see the dates, locations and make an appointment, go to graahi.com/getvaccinated.

COVID and the Workplace – Community Roundtable

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Online Discussion Shines a Light on Equity and Support During the Pandemic – Jan 27th at 10am

Four women leaders share best practices they have learned from their staff and community

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) will bring together four local female executives for a virtual Community Roundtable event titled, “COVID and the Workplace” on Thursday, January 27th at 10:00 a.m.

From healthcare, education and the private sector, the panelists will discuss how COVID has impacted their teams and our community, and how they’ve navigated the shifting landscape to ensure that new policies are equitable, safe and sustainable for all. The panelists scheduled to participate are:

  • Christina Keller, President/CEO, Cascade Engineering
  • Christina (Tina) Freese Decker, President/CEO, Spectrum Health Systems
  • Teresa Weatherall Neal, CEO, Lead 616
  • Dr. Wanda Lipscomb, MSU College of Human Medicine

Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI, will serve as moderator. 

“The tragic impact of COVID-19, especially among the African American population, has rocked our community,” said Greene. “We are blessed to have these dynamic leaders in our region who are willing to share their insights and provide guidance to others during this important roundtable discussion.”

Click here to learn more about the Community Roundtable. The Roundtable will be LIVE-streamed to our social channels. Here is a link to Watch it on Zoom 

Free COVID tests – Site is LIVE

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Testing is an important tool to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Public health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that Americans use at-home tests if they begin to have symptoms, at least five days after coming in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, or are gathering indoors with a group of people who are at risk of severe disease or unvaccinated.

To help ensure Americans have tests on hand if a need arises, the Biden Administration is purchasing one billion at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests to give to Americans for free. A half-billion tests will be available for order on January 19th and will be mailed directly to American households.

There will be free tests available for every household, and to promote broad access, the initial program will allow four free tests to be requested per residential address. Americans will be able to order their tests online at COVIDTests.gov, and tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering.

Order tests at covidtests.org

GRAAHI to host Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in Grand Rapids on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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What:

Four Grand Rapids organizations are joining forces on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to deliver free COVID-19 vaccinations to residents in our community. 

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI), an organization devoted to achieving healthcare parity for African Americans, is leading the coordination and public awareness efforts for this event. Health care professionals from University of Michigan Health-West will provide vaccination services. Brown-Hutcherson Ministries has generously provided space to host the clinic. The Grand Rapids MLK Community Worship Celebration Committee is providing marketing support.

The goal of this event is to increase the vaccination rate among African Americans in our community, while building greater awareness about the positive impact of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Residents five (5) years old and up can receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the event. To pre-register online click this link – or simply walk in and register on-site the day of the event.

COVID safety protocols will be enforced including mask mandates and social distancing. 

When:

Monday, January 17, 2022 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Where:

Brown-Hutcherson Ministries, 618 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503

Who: Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, in collaboration with University of Michigan Health-West, Brown-Hutcherson Ministries and the Grand Rapids MLK Community Worship Celebration Committee.

For more information about the clinic, go to graahi.com/getvaccinated

To pre-register for an appointment, click this link.

GRAAHI joins Faith & Community Leaders to Support Healthcare Workers and Commit to COVID-19 Safety

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We are honored to join more than 100 churches, faith-based and community-based organizations to stand together to raise awareness of the current situation in our hospitals; issue a public statement of our commitment to help; and pray for the blessing of our healthcare workers and their families.Yesterday we safely gathered at the Mercy Health St. Mary’s parking lot to pray, connect and support our community, especially the healthcare workers that are tired and stretched to capacity.

Here’s the commitment we all made:

✔️ Eliminate all non-essential, indoor gatherings

✔️ Restrict essential gatherings to less than 50 people per 2,000 square feet

✔️ Require all attendees at indoor gatherings to wear a mask and abide by social distancing and appropriate COVID-19 hygiene

✔️ Encourage all members of our community to get the COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots

We invite you to join us in this commitment. For more information on the coalition, watch this video from yesterday’s event:https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=927250851483892

Black health leaders encourage community to get their kids vaccinated

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by: Dana Whyte Wood TV8

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — With kids ages 5 to 11 now able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, health officials are encouraging those in diverse communities to get the shot.

Officials with the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute say while there’s still some hesitancy within the Black community about the coronavirus vaccine, they want people to know it is in fact safe and it’s important for kids to get vaccinated, now that they can.

Vanessa Greene, the CEO, says she wants her community to know that the shot has been vetted thoroughly. As a mother herself, she says she understands the concern but knows getting kids vaccinated is the best option.ADVERTISING

Greene says to solve the problem of hesitancy, it’s important for people to understand why distrust exists and go from there.

“I think that in order to change and to improve in these areas of distrust and hesitancy, whether it’s about the vaccination or about healthcare in general for the African-American community, then it will require us coming together and having those serious conversations and being intentional about making change,” said Greene.

Greene says it’s important to have conversations with communities across the board to understand where others are coming from and move forward.

https://www.woodtv.com/covid-19-vaccine/black-health-leaders-encourage-community-to-get-their-kids-vaccinated/?fbclid=IwAR2Ow5yjiaJJKvcFs0zix7tMbjshlZEEp9Ym-p5d4a-7585LEn7BMJBAcPE

Your Guide to COVID-19 Vaccinations – A Q&A For Parents with GRPS and GRAAHI

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FREE ONLINT EVENT – Wednesday, January 26th

The Grand Rapids Public Schools and the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute are working together to ensure every family feels informed about COVID-19 vaccinations for our youth.

As we have lived through this pandemic together, we all know that there is a lot of information out there that can be overwhelming for parents/guardians. We have developed a panel of clinicians from our community that will be able to help answer any of your questions related to COVID-19 vaccinations.

The panel will come together virtually on Wednesday, January 26th at 9:30 am and 6 pm. We hope this panel helps you make an informed decision.

RSVP on Facebook

Join the Zoom:

Choose to attend this meeting on 1/26 at either of the following times:

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500 Lafayette Avenue, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-331-5831 info@graahi.org
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At GRAAHI we promote non-discriminatory practices. We do not, and shall not, discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of our activities or operations. We are committed to honesty AND transparency. We support diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas, including but not limited to, staff hiring, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. Together we accomplish the extraordinary.

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