Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 3/2021

01-06-2021 | Public Health | Philosophical Exploration

Combating Contagion and Injustice: The Shared Work for Public Health and Faith Communities During COVID-19

Authors: Joshua T. B. Williams, Adrian Miller, Abraham M. Nussbaum

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

Faith communities are uniquely positioned for essential public health work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and address the chronic pre-existing health disparities that have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Specifically, faith communities can (1) dialogue with public health communities, developing internal policies and meeting guidelines consistent with evidence-based recommendations and their own faith traditions, (2) bolster religious daycare and parochial school immunization policies, and (3) partner with faith-based organizations through financial support and volunteer hours. This essential work will complement governmental public health approaches and ensure faith communities can assist with future pandemics.
Literature
go back to reference Bobo, J. K., Gale, J. L., Thapa, P. B., & Wassilak, S. G. F. (1993). Risk factors for delayed immunization in a random sample of 1163 children from Oregon and Washington. Pediatrics, 91(2), 308–314.PubMed Bobo, J. K., Gale, J. L., Thapa, P. B., & Wassilak, S. G. F. (1993). Risk factors for delayed immunization in a random sample of 1163 children from Oregon and Washington. Pediatrics, 91(2), 308–314.PubMed
go back to reference Conger, K., Healy, J., & Topmkins, L. (2020). Churches were eager to reopen. Now they are confronting coronavirus cases. . New York Times. Conger, K., Healy, J., & Topmkins, L. (2020). Churches were eager to reopen. Now they are confronting coronavirus cases. . New York Times.
go back to reference Feikin, D. R., Lezotte, D. C., Hamman, R. F., Salmon, D. A., Chen, R. T., & Hoffman, R. E. (2000). Individual and community risks of measles and pertussis associated with personal exemptions to immunization. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284(24), 3145–3150.CrossRef Feikin, D. R., Lezotte, D. C., Hamman, R. F., Salmon, D. A., Chen, R. T., & Hoffman, R. E. (2000). Individual and community risks of measles and pertussis associated with personal exemptions to immunization. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284(24), 3145–3150.CrossRef
go back to reference Lannon, C., Brack, V., Stuart, J., Caplow, M., McNeill, A., Bordley, W., & Margolis, P. (1995). What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 149(10), 1070–1075.CrossRef Lannon, C., Brack, V., Stuart, J., Caplow, M., McNeill, A., Bordley, W., & Margolis, P. (1995). What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 149(10), 1070–1075.CrossRef
go back to reference Levin, J. S. (2020). Religion and medicine: A history of the encounter between humanity’s two greatest institutions. (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.CrossRef Levin, J. S. (2020). Religion and medicine: A history of the encounter between humanity’s two greatest institutions. (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Miller, A. N., & Rubin, D. L. (2011). Health communication and faith communities. (1st ed.). Hampton Press. Miller, A. N., & Rubin, D. L. (2011). Health communication and faith communities. (1st ed.). Hampton Press.
go back to reference Miller, L. A., Hoffman, R. E., Baron, A. E., Marine, W. M., & Melinkovich, P. (1994). Risk factors for delayed immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella in Colorado two-year-olds. Pediatrics, 94(2I), 213–219.PubMed Miller, L. A., Hoffman, R. E., Baron, A. E., Marine, W. M., & Melinkovich, P. (1994). Risk factors for delayed immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella in Colorado two-year-olds. Pediatrics, 94(2I), 213–219.PubMed
go back to reference Parmet, W. E. (2021). Roman catholic diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo–The supreme court and pandemic conrtols. The New England Journal of Medicine., 384, 199–201.CrossRef Parmet, W. E. (2021). Roman catholic diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo–The supreme court and pandemic conrtols. The New England Journal of Medicine., 384, 199–201.CrossRef
go back to reference Shaw, J., Tserenpuntsag, B., McNutt, L.-A., & Halsey, N. (2014). United States private schools have higher rates of exemptions to school immunization requirements than public schools. Journal of Pediatrics, 165(1), 129–133.CrossRef Shaw, J., Tserenpuntsag, B., McNutt, L.-A., & Halsey, N. (2014). United States private schools have higher rates of exemptions to school immunization requirements than public schools. Journal of Pediatrics, 165(1), 129–133.CrossRef
go back to reference Williams, J. T. B., Miller, A., & O’Leary, S. T. (2020). Sacred or secular? Exploring religious coloradans questions about vaccines. Vaccine, 38(45), 6971–6974.CrossRef Williams, J. T. B., Miller, A., & O’Leary, S. T. (2020). Sacred or secular? Exploring religious coloradans questions about vaccines. Vaccine, 38(45), 6971–6974.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Combating Contagion and Injustice: The Shared Work for Public Health and Faith Communities During COVID-19
Authors
Joshua T. B. Williams
Adrian Miller
Abraham M. Nussbaum
Publication date
01-06-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01243-4

Other articles of this Issue 3/2021

Journal of Religion and Health 3/2021 Go to the issue