Women’s History Month is the perfect time to look at contributions made by women to the field of public health. Women have played an important role in bettering the lives of others, whether through important vaccines, critical research, or advocating for public health measures in their community. These are just a few of the women who have played a critical role in public health throughout history, or shall we say herstory.
Last month, the outdoor mask mandate was lifted by Governor Jay Inslee. Starting tomorrow, the indoor mask mandate will be lifted as well. However, there are still places in our community where masks will be required, including locations mandated at the federal level, healthcare settings, and some private businesses.
Let's talk boosters! First off, booster shots can be an important tool in helping build your immunity against COVID-19. If you received your initial vaccine series of either Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, kudos to you! You took the first step in protecting yourself against COVID-19.
SRHD has extremely dedicated staff who are always working to create a healthier community. Often some of the most important work goes on behind the scenes. Recently, however, two of our staff received awards of recognition from Vanessa Behan, an organization that provides safety and resources for our community’s children and families. Erin Whitehead, epidemiologist, was presented the Heart of Gold award and Jennifer Hansen, health program specialist, was recognized as the Child Advocate of the Year.
Starting today, Feb. 18, the mask mandate for outdoor events and gatherings has been lifted by Gov. Inslee. We know lifting the outdoor mask mandate can give our community a glimpse of hope that the pandemic is nearing its end. However, it's important to remember that cases of COVID-19 are still being reported in Spokane County, and healthcare workers are continuing to provide critical care to those in the COVID-19 ICU.
