During the past several weeks, I’ve been able to volunteer at some of Riley County’s COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics. What a great experience! 
During these community events I’ve learned about trust. So, I think that Health Means – TRUST.
While serving as a volunteer during coronavirus testing drives I saw examples of trust – one after another. I saw health professionals put their trust in the personal protective equipment (PPE) they used to protect themselves while nasal-swabbing over 300 first responders and health providers. I admired the trust that the fire fighters and police officers had for the gentle care of health department nurses when they collected each important sample. I also saw the trust that the county’s elected officials had for the local journalists when they reported on the successes of the testing events held in smaller towns in the rural parts of the county.
Then, when the vaccine became available the trust that older adults, their care providers and health- compromised citizens put in the efficacy of the vaccine was inspiring. While volunteering in the post-vaccination waiting area, I heard several who had received their vaccination admit that they decided to be vaccinated because of the trust they put in their family, friends, and doctors who trusted the science behind the vaccine. Following the encouragement of those they knew and respected, the recipients learned about the science that resulted in the trusted vaccine.
That trust is well-deserved. According to a March 18 presentation by Dr. Barney Graham, deputy director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health, and a Kansan who has been called the “father of the COVID-19 vaccine,” the science was already underway to produce the vaccine before the need arrived. For nearly seven years, studies of 26 different viruses had been in progress, and with the infusion of much-needed funding for additional studies, equipment and personnel the pace of vaccine development was quickened. Trust in the laboratory teams, in the innovative public-private partnerships that “cut red-tape and not corners,” and in the scientific process resulted in the relief and tears of gratitude I witnessed while serving at the vaccination clinics. Dr. Graham provided insights into the development of the vaccine and explained why some may initially be hesitant to have a vaccination when it becomes available to them. His remarks answered questions and built trust throughout the state, and are available at: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/covid-19-resources/covid-19-vaccine-webinar.html
It was Booker T. Washington who said “Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him. “ I’ll offer this slight modification that there are few things that can be more helpful than to have trust in each other.
Every year in the United States, many people get diseases that vaccines can prevent. Health means…preventing infectious diseases by increasing vaccination rates.
Contributor: Elaine Johannes (ejohanne@ksu.edu)
