THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 27, 2021 Page 9 SAVE LIVES | FROM PAGE 1 loved ones and yourself by getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. "This is something you can do yourself to help keep all of us safe," Mayor Gary Christenson said at Monday's presentation, as he and the others on the update presentation panel urged all who are not vaccinated to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot. "We had 4,552 people tested for COVID-19 in Malden last week..... Why? Why haven't they gotten vaccinated?" Malden Health Dept. Director Chris Webb asked aloud at the presentation. "At this point (those who are unvaccinated) are just waiting their turn to go to the ICU (intensive care unit). "Pfi zer got fi nal approval from the FDA. The others (vaccine brands) will follow. It's safe. It saves lives," Webb said. "Stop getting tested. Get vaccinated!" Webb added, "Even if it's just the fi rst shot. Get one! There is no time like the present. Registration is a breeze, there are plenty of places to go," Webb said, "just get vaccinated." The city of Malden is actually ahead of the curve statewide in numbers of residents being either fully or partly vaccinated, Webb and Mayor Christenson reported. Overall, 64.4 percent of all Massachusetts residents are fully vaccinated as of last Friday, according to state offi cials, which best and only hope at this point." Malden Board of Health member Scune Cunningham also urged all to get vaccinated. "Do your part. Get any info Mayor Gary Christenson, Health Director Chris Webb and others are urging all residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo) is in the top fi ve nationally for a statewide percentage. In Malden, there are 67.4 percent of its 66,000-plus residents vaccinated. The city of Malden is ahead of the state numbers with slightly higher percentages of residents vaccinated except for only the age 75 and older bracket. In Malden, 84.2 percent of local residents are vaccinated in the age 75-older bracket while statewide the number is at 86.1 percent. Here's the breakdown in the other age categories: age 65-74 (87.9 percent); 50-64 (77.7 percent); 30-49 (75 percent); 20-29 (67.1 percent); age 16-19 (57.7 percent); age 12-15 (46.6 percent). The COVID-19 vaccine is approved for age 12-19 only for the Pfi zer vaccine at this time. None of the vaccines are approved for those under age 12 at this time. Both Webb and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) Senior Director of Emergency Management and Safety Christian Lanphere concurred that a vaccine would be available for children as young as two years old by mid-to- late October. "Those who are not vaccinated must get vaccinated," Lanphere said, referring to signifi - cant uptick in COVID-19 positive cases in both Massachusetts and even more nationwide, largely due to the Delta variant. "There will be more variants and the longer people continue to remain unvaccinated, it puts everyone in danger," Lanphere added. "The burden of responsibility for the pandemic to worsen is on the shoulders of the unvaccinated." "We are all on the clock and it's not a good clock, because of those who are unvaccinated," Webb echoed. "The unvaccinated allow the Delta variant to get stronger and also leaves the door open for other variants to develop which could be even more contagious and more deadly. Get vaccinated. It's our Cook family to host fundraiser for Ward 5 Councillor candidate Ari Taylor I n hard times they say to look for the helpers, and the Cook family is exactly that. They have always stepped up to the plate to fi ght for justice in Malden, and that was seen fi rsthand when in 2017 their children faced suspension, were banned from prom and were not allowed to participate in their sports or clubs because of their natural hair. Since then the family has worked with community members and State Representative Steven Ultrino to write “The CROWN Act” (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) for the Massachusetts Legislature to prevent discrimination based on natural hair. (On March 29, 2021, the Massachusetts Legislature referred this bill to its Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Thirteen states have passed a similar “CROWN Act.”) They are the helpers, and Ari Taylor’s campaign is honored to have their support for her candidacy for Ward 5 Councillor. The Cook family will be hosting an event for the campaign this Saturday, August 28 at 6 p.m. at 146 Plymouth Rd. in Malden and you are invited. There will be food, drinks and good company that will include community leaders from across Malden as the campaign works to make a city #ForAllofUs. If you’re unable to attend but still would like to get involved, visit the website at AriForMalden.com. you need to get," she said "Talk to your healthcare providers and anyone else you trust. We have to get to at least 80percent (vaccinated)." Lanphere gave a stark example of why vaccination is key. "I can't tell you how many people in ICU beds in hospitals have said 'I wish I got my vaccination shot' as they lay there and their health continues to deteriorate." "Please, everyone, consider getting vaccinated. Help keep everyone safe," Mayor Christenson said, noting that he and his central staff have not mandated city of Malden employees to get the vaccine shot, though he confi rmed it has been discussed. "The onus is on the unvaccinated. We cannot go another year or two more years of this (pandemic). Nurses and doctors are already leaving the industry (in frustration)," CHA's Lanphere said. "The onus is on the unvaccinated. It's your civic responsibility. "We don't want to go on for years and years and years of this. If we don't get vaccinated we will never get out of this," Lanphere said. "If the other, even stronger variants develop, as we expect they may, it may put us in a situation where any vaccines don't work at all."
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