Resistance is not futile, but it can be fatal

The last words of Jade Robinson’s mom still haunt her four years later. Thong Sengphirom was taken off life support on Dec. 17, 2020 and she used her last breath to beg her daughter “Just make me better.” Robinson’s mom was everything to her, “My mom was the most beautiful, warm, caring woman you’ll ever know. She was full of laughter and when she smiled, she just brightened our day.” As a health care worker, Robinson tells the story of her mother to encourage others to get vaccinated, for themselves or for their loved ones. “Yes, we get sick for a day or two with the vaccines that we are given, but think about what happens when you don’t get the vaccines.”

Zuli Garcia, founder of Knock and Drop Iowa became involved in vaccination efforts in 2020. “So many people in our Latino community didn't know where to get vaccinated.” Garcia’s organization partnered with others and collaboratively they have provided thousands of COVID, flu, and HPV vaccines. “Vaccines are important because they save lives. They should be easier to receive.”

Robinson and Garcia are just two women among many who are performing the Sisyphean task of helping Iowans get vaccines. They are quietly and persistently saving lives despite increasing challenges to vaccine uptake. Public perception of the importance of childhood vaccines is decreasing, and obstacles are bound to continue with the appointment of anti-vaccine leaders in the next administration.

All the more reason to highlight lifesaving work, successes, and stories of courage in uncertain times.

In Northeastern Iowa, efforts are currently underway to protect dairy farmers given the rise of Avian flu and other infectious diseases, such as RSV, whooping cough and pertussis. Nicole Bertges is the Public Health Coordinator in Dubuque, and describes the outreach work occurring in the county. “For us to reach that population, a population that may or may not be able to make it to a clinic where we can get them vaccinated, we can educate them, and we can also check on things like their cardiovascular health and mental health. And if there are needs to be addressed, we try to get them scheduled for a physician visit.”

Bertges discussed some of the challenges public health professionals are facing. “Misinformation is big. We are trying to increase our social media presence to get [valid] information out there and we are partnering with Iowa Immunizes. We have seen a decrease in public trust nationwide after COVID.”

Sometimes it takes a personal tragedy to understand the severity of infectious diseases and the need for immunizations. Even working in the health care field, Robinson previously was neutral regarding vaccines. “The COVID vaccine before [the pandemic] happened, it probably meant nothing to me. But once a loved one — especially my mother — got COVID, was in the hospital, and moved to ICCU having a breathing tube put in, that changed my whole outlook of what COVID is.”

Garcia was concerned about hesitancy in her community, and expressed elation in overcoming it. “At our first partnership back in 2020 we had over 500 vaccinated. Joining forces and breaking barriers — it was a great feeling.”

In addition to hesitation, public health officials are also fighting a moving target. “We always are concerned about emerging or mutating viruses,” explained Bertges. “We want to make sure that people are vaccinated as much as possible. There are a lot of these emerging viruses — ones that we are watching and the CDC is watching.” Multiple viruses circulating at one time pose greater risk to our health. “Anytime you've got viruses that could coinfect or commingle, you run the risk of gene swapping. So we have to be careful and vaccinate as many people as possible to kind of reduce the risk to susceptible populations.”

Garcia worries about access given new political challenges, and how they will impact the community. “We are creating extra steps to families that are in need of vaccines.”

Robinson hopes people continue to get vaccinated. “I believe people should get vaccinated for COVID-19 because of what I went through with my mom. I would never want to see and hear about someone’s family member dying or passing away needlessly.” She advocates for vaccination, but understands it is up to individuals to decide. She emphasizes that despite the misinformation that abounds, vaccines can save lives. “Vaccination remains the safest strategy for avoiding hospitalizations, long-term negative health outcomes, and even death.”

Bertges also stresses the importance of partnership. “The Visiting Nurse Association and Mercy One have been great. The Visiting Nurse Association is going to be distributing the vaccines and the Mercy One clinic is going to be doing the Wellness checks and the mental health checks.” The hope is that together they are able to holistically address the health of the farmers who face the highest exposure to the avian flu. Experts are monitoring the disease and so far farmworkers have been hardest hit, but even pets and suburban birds have been infected in late 2024.

As yet another Christmas goes by without her mother, Robinson continues to feel the pain of her loss and of her mother’s absence. “I felt I let her down, I felt guilty I couldn’t do anything for her. I felt guilty that I maybe could’ve done something. Done anything different. Ask more questions.”

As you make your New Year’s Resolutions, you may want to consider the gift of health if the form of updated vaccines. They can save more than your own life, they might save your loved ones as well.

Agricultural workers in Dubuque County that want to receive health screenings and immunizations can call the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association at 563-556-6200.