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Thursday, June 17, 2021

Allegheny Health Network Caregivers Produce Educational Videos Offering Facts on COVID-19, the Vaccine

Aimed at marginalized populations, and available for public use, topics include pregnancy and COVID, and the disparate impact of COVID-19 on minorities

PITTSBURGH, PA – Marginalized populations who contract the COVID-19 virus – including Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians - are about three times more likely than whites to be hospitalized, and about twice as likely to die of the virus, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control.

Given these alarming statistics, and with vaccination rates slowing, physicians and executives at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) have produced a series of videos aimed at minority audiences that address questions and concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus and the vaccine. The videos are available for viewing and downloading on You Tube.

They include:

Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, senior vice president, chief clinical, diversity, equity and inclusion officer of the Enterprise Institute of Equitable Health, Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network, discussing the disparate impact of COVID-19 on minorities, and her own experience taking part in a clinical trial of one of the vaccines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zistExdPGh4

Imran Qadeer, MD, Chief Medical Officer at AHN Allegheny General Hospital, talking about the safety, availability and effectiveness of the vaccine, about the clinical trials that preceded the distribution of the vaccine and possible side effects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mquhRVJ_vMo

Danielle Smith, MD, AHN obstetrician/gynecologist, talks about how the COVID-19 virus affects women during pregnancy, gives advice for women who are considering the vaccine, and dispels rumors about the vaccine’s side effects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgpcL_ZknFs

Stephanie Miller, MD, AHN family medicine physician, explains the basics about the COVID-19 virus, how easily it is spread, and how making the decision to get the vaccine makes such a dramatic difference, not only to individuals but to their families and communities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwFAsGTwecw

“At Highmark Health and AHN, we are committed to supporting communities that are disproportionately impacted by health disparities, economic inequity, lack of educational opportunities, and social and racial injustice,” Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, AHN has been focused on ensuring that the vaccine is fairly distributed to people throughout our region, especially to those in underserved areas.”

“As of today, less than 50 percent of Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated. These videos offer important facts about COVID-19 and the value of the vaccine in preserving individual health and helping end the pandemic. We are excited to make them available to the public and urge everyone to watch and share,” Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew said.

 

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