As medical students at Western University in Lebanon, we are thankful for the overwhelming support from our community. From the Bag Ladies who provide our very first doctor bags every year, to the countless small businesses who serve us each day, we feel so welcome and at home in this town. We feel strongly that we are a part of this community, and we would like to give back in any way we can. Surviving the COVID pandemic has affected us all in a multitude of ways, and we all want to end this pandemic as soon as possible and get back to our normal lives.

As nation-wide COVID cases rise, and new variants emerge, we are now seeing rising cases in children at an alarming rate. Adults must work together to protect children, especially as many return to classrooms. We commend our community for the work that is already being done to keep kids and families safe, and we encourage increased vaccinations, wearing masks, and other safety measures.

Read on for the full op-ed, published September 27, 2021 in the Albany Democrat-Herald.

 


Mabry Gentry, Sol Khaitas and Samar Fakih are second-year medical students at Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Northwest, and members of the Oregon Pediatric Society.

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