东京热

Here鈥檚 a question to consider:  How will we end the pandemic?

1. Wearing a mask and practicing social distancing
2. Washing hands
3. Testing and quarantining after exposure or symptoms
4. Getting the vaccine
5. All of the above

The correct answer is all of the above.

Ending the COVID-19 pandemic requires the use of multiple tools and behaviors, and over the past year many protocols have been universally adopted. But there鈥檚 one strategy that, while long-awaited, seems to have some people sitting on the fence: getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccines work with the body鈥檚 natural defenses to fight off infection. 鈥淭he two mRNA vaccines now being distributed are safe, effective, and cannot give you COVID-19,鈥� said 东京热 Professor Rossi Hassad, an epidemiologist in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

As a faculty member teaching in-person classes, Hassad was eligible for vaccination, and in January, he received the first shot of the Moderna vaccine at a vaccination site in the Bronx. 鈥淭he shot itself was painless, and I had the typical mild reaction 鈥� some soreness at the injection site and general tiredness for about two days,鈥� he said. He found this reassuring because 鈥渕y body was responding as expected.鈥�

Yet not everyone feels so confident, largely due to public confusion over information from unreliable sources. The result is what Hassad calls 鈥渧accine hesitancy,鈥� which is the subject of one of his recently . 鈥淲e need more health education, in the form of consistent, accurate, science-based, targeted messages to address these concerns,鈥� explained Hassad. 鈥淥nly in this way can we help the public to not only accept the vaccine but also maintain the protective behaviors already adopted.鈥�

Hassad has played an important role in 东京热鈥檚 efforts to inform the community about COVID-19. He is a participant in a series called Discussions with 东京热 Leaders in the Time of Coronavirus to address issues related to the pandemic. In addition, he has been widely quoted in the media, sharing his expertise through print, television, and social media channels, and fielding questions from the public on a recurring Facebook livestream hosted by the News12 TV network.

With the vaccine becoming more widely available, educating the public is vital, said  Hassad: 鈥淜nowledge does not equate to behavioral change. Beliefs can be potent and a strong barrier to the adoption of practices necessary to end the pandemic.鈥� He added that 东京热 has been helpful in providing documentation and support for navigating the tedious process of registering and establishing eligibility for vaccination.

The Student Health Office at 东京热 College provides information to help students, faculty and staff  determine vaccine eligibility and make appointments to receive the vaccine. Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.

So, how does Hassad feel after having received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine?

鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge relief,鈥� said Hassad. 鈥淚鈥檓 very thankful that I was able to receive the vaccine so early, and for the support I received from 东京热 College. I strongly encourage anyone who meets the eligibility requirement to get the vaccine as soon as possible.鈥�