WE instead of ME: Why Vaccinations are More Important Than Ever
September 1, 2021 | Uncategorized
From the Desk of Jeff Cohen, CEO
The steep rise of COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious delta variant is troubling and cause for urgent action. According to the Washington State Department of Health, an estimated 2,700 new cases are reported daily, and hospital occupancy is at the highest levels seen to date in 2021. The delta variant, which is a more transmissible strain of the virus, is the dominant strain in Washington, making up more than 98 percent of cases.
Kline Galland has seen the effects of this firsthand. We are experiencing breakthrough positive cases within our facilities in our residents, patients and staff. While Kline Galland has an impressive vaccination rate of 97% among all residents, patients and staff, the community spread we are seeing in our area makes it impossible to fully protect our community from the threat of the virus. Statistics are showing the predominant transmitters of COVID-19 in our community are those who remain unvaccinated. Without higher vaccination rates cases of COVID-19 in the unvaccinated will continue to rise and Kline Galland will experience more breakthrough cases.
Kline Galland fully supports Governor Inslee’s mandate that all long-term healthcare workers in Washington must be vaccinated by October 18, 2021. The small senses of normalcy and comfort we want to experience right now— whether in restaurants, museums, stadiums, or family gatherings— are undeniably safer when each individual makes a commitment to themselves and their community by ensuring they are vaccinated.
We are pleading with all of you to stand with our healthcare heroes who have shown up every day to care for our beloved mothers and fathers and get vaccinated. Due to the vulnerability of our residents and safety of our staff, we also strongly urge the eligible family members and visitors of our residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Our mission for 108 years has been to honor and protect our fathers and mothers. Right now we need our community champions to help us protect our beloved residents and heroic staff more than ever. Together we can prevent a further rise in COVID-19 and do our best to prevent hospitalization and deaths of our immediate community and beyond.
This is a call to action – we hope you will join us – to care more about the WE instead of ME and do all we can for the best of our loved ones, our neighbors and beyond. We appreciate your support and trust in Kline Galland during these unprecedented times as we continue to do everything in our power to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our community.
Jeff Cohen, Kline Galland CEO
