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Give Your Community a Boost this National Minority Health Month

Date: 04/01/22

April is National Minority Health Month. During National Minority Health Month, there is special focus on the importance of improving the health of minority communities. One way to do that is by reducing health disparities.

The theme for National Minority Health Month 2022 is “Give Your Community a Boost!” This year’s theme focuses on why it’s important to get your COVID-19 vaccine and booster. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a bigger impact on minority communities in the United States. COVID-19 data shows that people of color are more likely to go to the hospital or die due to COVID-19. Some of the reasons why may be related to health disparities like higher risk of exposure in the workplace or higher risk of severe illness due to higher rates of chronic health issues like diabetes. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are the strongest tools we have to end the COVID-19 pandemic. You can reduce your personal risk of severe illness or death by getting your vaccine or booster shot now.

Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine Information From Reliable, Trusted Sources

If you experience discrimination in a hospital or during a doctor’s visit, it can affect the way you feel towards health professionals. That’s why it’s important for you to talk about COVID-19 vaccines with a doctor you trust. Your doctor knows you and your health status. They can answer your questions and help you make the right decision for you.

It is also important to get COVID-19 information from reliable sources like the CDC and the Louisiana Department of Health. These organizations share COVID-19 information from scientists and public health professionals who are working hard every day to stop the spread of COVID-19.

What you see and share on social media can also affect the way you feel about the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s important to double check the COVID-19 vaccine information you see on social media before clicking the share button. Knowledge is power! Don’t let misinformation get in the way of keeping you and your community safe and healthy.

Here are some common myths you may have seen about the COVID-19 vaccine and the facts:

MYTH

FACT

The ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous.

Nearly all the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are also ingredients in many foods like fats, sugars, and salts.

COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain dangerous ingredients or metals.

Learn more about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccinations.

The natural immunity I get from being sick with COVID-19 is better than the immunity I get from COVID-19 vaccination.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccination is a better way to build immunity to COVID-19 than getting sick with COVID-19.

Learn about why you should get vaccinated even if you already had COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines cause variants.

 

COVID-19 vaccines do not create or cause variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Instead, COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent new variants from emerging.

Learn more about variants.

COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips.

 

COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips. Vaccines are made to fight diseases. They do NOT track your movement.

Learn more about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccinations.

COVID-19 vaccines can alter my DNA.

 

COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. The vaccine NEVER enters the nucleus of your cells, which is where your DNA is kept.

Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

A COVID-19 vaccine can make me sick with COVID-19.

Because none of the COVID-19 vaccines in the United States contain the virus that causes COVID-19, the vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

COVID-19 vaccines will affect my fertility.

Currently no evidence shows that vaccines cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant) in women or men.

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future. It is also recommended for their partners.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and people who would like to have a baby.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will make me test positive on a COVID-19 test.

None of the COVID-19 vaccines can cause you to test positive on a COVID test. COVID-19 tests are used to see if you have a current infection.​

Learn more about the possibility of COVID-19 illness after vaccination.

Have more questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and booster? Talk with your doctor or find answers here: https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/faq/category/138