What is public health?
The May 27 Columbian included many articles related to public health (“In Our View: Pandemic reinforces public health’s critical role,” “Ridgefield students take their shot,” “Quiring O’Brien: Make it harder to vaccinate children,” The Columbian, May 27). I thought after reading them that the concept of public health needs clarification.
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention I found, “Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases. Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations.”
We are all members of the public. An infectious disease such as COVID-19 is a social disease. It is not enough to think of ourselves solely as free individuals. Our community’s health is a joint endeavor, and we share joint responsibility. When each of us gets a vaccination, it not only protects us individually, it protects our entire community. Those who cannot be vaccinated are indebted to the rest of us who can and do get vaccines for their protection.
Vaccinations are safe, effective, free and help everyone. Get yours!
