As the COVID-19 delta variant spreads, many of our communities are unprepared and unprotected. While COVID-19 is trending in the wrong direction in Kansas and our hospitals are once again nearing capacity, as highlighted in a recent Kansas Reflector op-ed, we still have the ability to overcome this pandemic if we increase our vaccination rates.

We can all do our part by having open and empathetic conversations with family, friends and neighbors about the vaccine and encouraging them to make a plan to get vaccinated. To help faith leaders do just that, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund created a Faith in Vaccines toolkit and sermon series to help faith leaders support positive conversations about vaccinations.

The guide, informed by conversations with lay faith leaders across Kansas and research conducted by the de Beaumont Foundation and Missouri Foundation for Health, also can help prepare you to have meaningful, impactful and highly personal conversations about the benefits of vaccinations.

During these conversations, it’s normal for questions to arise. Faith leaders and medical professionals are trusted sources who can provide helpful information. Enlist them to help share the message about the importance of vaccines. We did. (Please feel free to use and share the videos linked below or on our YouTube page as resources.)

To reduce the spread of the delta variant and to help us get back to life, we all have a part to play. Commit to having open, honest conversations with loved ones about the importance and safety of vaccines. Help address their concerns and encourage them to make a plan to get vaccinated. Your time and these conversations can save lives. Together, we can increase vaccination rates and enjoy a return to normal.

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