Bringing Health to the Community – One Salon at a Time

As we approach flu season and the cold winter months, I can’t think of a health issue that is more important today than increasing COVID-19 vaccinations. Each of us can play a role in helping to increase the number of people who are protected against this deadly virus. Through the power of our social circles within our own communities, friends, and family members, we can share information, address concerns, discuss our reasons for getting vaccinated and direct those who are hesitant to trusted voices that can calm fears and allay concerns.

At Kaiser Permanente, we have made the important decision to require our employees and physicians to be vaccinated. We view this as the best way to protect ourselves, our members, and our community from the virus. We are also addressing vaccinations within the community through a partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and their GoVAX program. Through this program, we are leveraging an approach to health that uses trusted voices in high-risk communities to share health information. These trusted voices are salon and barbershop owners working in communities across the region. For many communities, these businesses are at the heart of robust conversations and discussions on everything from politics to football games with health topics often in the mix.

Last year, we witnessed staggering racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 across the country. Expanding access and providing accurate information about the vaccine is critical to increasing our community vaccination rates. Currently, more than 66% of eligible Marylanders are fully vaccinated, compared with 61% of Baltimore residents. Educating communities about the vaccine is critical to increasing these rates.

Good Health & Great Hair was launched in 2016 with the goal of reducing health disparities in the traditionally underserved West Baltimore community by bringing health care and social services to residents in trusted community spaces. Since its launch, the program has provided more than 8,000 clinical and social services to 1,823 Baltimore residents – 86% of whom were Black and 56% of whom were male.

Research came out earlier this year demonstrating that the Good Health & Great Hair program truly improves health. And so, we are using this proven model to increase vaccinations in Maryland with a specific focus on populations facing the lowest vaccination rates – Black and LatinX.

The beauty of the GoVAX program is that it aims to narrow health disparities among Black and brown communities by meeting people where they are – in the community.?And, the Good Health Great & Hair model brings vital information and resources to local salons and barbershops in communities at the highest risk for COVID-19.

Our work began this past spring with training, conducted by physicians at Kaiser Permanente, to equip community organizations and leaders with the education and information needed to boost vaccine confidence among constituents and host vaccination clinics. The program is engaging a broad network of 46 trusted community partners representing 97 sites in Baltimore City, Prince Georges County, and Montgomery County.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to get vaccinated – to protect themselves and those around them from COVID-19, as well as to have their questions about the vaccine answered by experts. We know that bringing healthcare resources to areas that have lacked equitable access is an effective way to improve health outcomes in our most underserved communities.

Reaching herd immunity is going to take work. It is going to require conversations using accurate information from the voices that community members trust. It is also going to take leadership to help reach those at greatest risk and facing the greatest challenges in getting vaccinated. We all play a role in protecting our communities and I’m proud of the role that Kaiser Permanente is playing in this vital work. Let us not forget that we are in this together, and together we will get this virus under control.

Learn more about the campaign and upcoming events in Maryland here. ?