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NHMA x HHS We Can Do This Campaign

The National Hispanic Medical Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s COVID-19 Public Education Campaign, We Can Do This, have partnered to educate patients about their risk for severe COVID and the availability of treatments.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign is a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters and updated vaccines. The Campaign also increases awareness about COVID treatments and heightens urgency to talk to a doctor at first sign of symptoms

The We Can Do This campaign has also created easy-to-understand patient education materials, in both English and Spanish, that explain who is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID, the availability of COVID treatments, and the importance of early treatment. The materials, which include information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and culturally tailored content from the We Can Do This campaign’s team of multicultural experts, are being shared with NHMA members.

While most people with COVID have mild symptoms, some can get severely ill, require hospitalization, and even die. Educating patients on their risk factors, treatment options, and the timing of when they need to start treatment can help keep them out of the hospital.

 

We Can Do This is a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of being up to date on COVID vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures. Through a nationwide network of trusted messengers and consistent, fact-based public health messaging, the Campaign helps the public make informed decisions about their health and COVID, including steps to protect themselves and their communities. The effort is driven by communication science and provides tailored information for at-risk groups.

Updated COVID Vaccines Toolkit

Frquently Asked Questions About Updated COVID-19 Vaccines

Answers to common questions about updated COVID-19 vaccines
Get Your Updated COVID Vaccine Flyer

Flyer explaining the importance of getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Protect Your Loved Ones by Getting Your Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Poster

Poster for long-term care facilities to encourage their residents to get updated COVID-19 vaccines.
Protect Your Staff and Residents With Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Poster

Poster for long -term care facilities to encourage their staff and residents to get updated COVID-19 vaccines.
Update Your COVID-19 Vaccination Protection Poster

Poster for organizations to print and display to encourage people to get updated COVID-19 vaccines.
Get Your Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Here Poster

Poster for vaccine providers to print and display to encourage people to get updated COVID-19 vaccines.

What is COVID-19 and why is vaccination so important?

COVID is an infectious disease.

There’s no way to know how COVID will affect you. Most people have a mild case, but it can cause serious illness and death.

COVID has killed more than 1,090,000 people in the United States, making it a leading cause of death.

Some people develop long COVID, where they have symptoms that last for weeks or months.

COVID can even cause some people to develop new health conditions, such as:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart conditions
  • Blood clots
  • Neurological conditions that affect the brain and nervous system

Getting and staying up to date with your COVID vaccine can reduce the risk that you’ll:

  • Get seriously ill, need hospital care, or die from COVID.
  • Develop long COVID.
  • Spread the disease to others, putting their health and lives at risk.

Who is more likely to get long COVID?

Anyone who gets sick with COVID can develop long COVID. Researchers are working to better understand why some people do and some people don’t.

So far, studies have found that the following people may be more likely than others to get long COVID:

What are the symptoms of long COVID?

People who have long COVID can experience a variety of symptoms, some of which may be hard to explain. Commonly reported symptoms include:

  • Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
  • Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
  • Fever
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Chest pain
  • Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
  • Headache
  • Sleep problems
  • Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
  • Pins-and-needles feelings
  • Change in smell or taste
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Rash
  • Changes in menstrual cycles

How can I protect myself and others from COVID until I get vaccinated?

If you’re not yet vaccinated, your best protection is to wear a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth inside public places when the COVID risk to your community is high.

If you’re at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID, you can also protect yourself by:

  • Keeping at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live with you.
  • Avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you don’t have soap and water.

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine and where can I get vaccinated?

Everyone ages 6 months and older in the United States should get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccines are free for everyone—citizens and noncitizens alike, regardless of your immigration status.

You don’t need health insurance. And many vaccine providers don’t require any forms of ID.

Vaccines are available from pharmacies, doctors’ offices, community health centers, and many more locations. Most people live within 5 miles of a vaccination site.

You have 3 ways to find vaccines near you:

How are COVID-19 vaccines given?

The available COVID-19 vaccines are given as a shot in the upper part of your arm. Infants and toddlers may receive vaccines in their thighs.

The process is quick and practically painless, because the needle is very thin and the dose is small.

Which COVID vaccine can I get?

Everyone 6 months or older can get either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.

People 12 and older can also choose to get the Novavax vaccine.

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine is available in limited situations for people ages 18 and older, such as for those who can’t get the other vaccines for health reasons.

How many vaccine doses do I need for the best protection?

The number of doses you need to stay up to date with your vaccines depends on your age and which vaccine you get.

Toolkits for Working with Hispanic Patients

Resources About COVID-19 Treatment — Spanish

A selection of outreach resources related to COVID-19 treatment to help prevent serious COVID-19 illness.
Community Health Workers Toolkit — Spanish

Complete resources to help community health workers build vaccine confidence and promote preventive measures in their organizations and communities.
Essential Workers in Agriculture Toolkit — Spanish

Complete resources to build vaccine confidence and promote preventive measures with agricultural workers.

Learn more by visiting the We Can Do This landing page at wecandothis.hhs.gov.