Consensus Statement

41 organizations say,
“Be critical of social media; wear a mask and get the vaccine.”
WNY COVID-19 Working Group, September 4, 2021

These organizations and the individuals signing below

say the following message is correct and reliable. Social
media posts may be incorrect. Find reliable, science-
based information sources, such as the CDC.

We are experiencing a high number of COVID-19 cases in the region. You

should wear a mask in indoor public places, even if you are fully
vaccinated. Please wear a mask in outdoor settings if it is crowded or
you expect close contact with others.
Wearing a mask will protect you. It will protect people around you. And
the more people who do it, the more we protect the community. This is
similar to littering. If one person litters, no one notices the impact. If
many people litter, it creates a problem for everyone.
The risks of the vaccine are far lower than the risks of COVID-19. Please
get a vaccine. Even if you are healthy, it is best not to get the COVID-19
infection, because you can spread it to vulnerable people without
knowing.
92% of recent COVID-19 deaths in Erie County are in people who are not
fully vaccinated.
There is evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are SAFE during pregnancy.
Infection with the COVID-19 virus during pregnancy can cause poor
outcomes for moms and newborns. One study showed if a mother gives
birth while infected with COVID-19, they have a 5 times elevated risk of
dying.
There is NO evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility.
However, the COVID-19 infection CAN affect future fertility.
You are not protected by your racial, ethnic or age group.
COVID-19 is not like influenza. It is 10 times more fatal.

Why get a COVID-19 vaccine if we still have to wear masks and practice social
distancing? We must use every tool available to control the pandemic. Each
tool contributes toward “flattening the curve” and reducing, for example,
the number of critically ill patients.

Why should I get the vaccine when people who are vaccinated can still get
COVID-19? The COVID-19 vaccines were designed to prevent serious
infection, hospitalization, and death. All of the current US vaccines provide
very strong protection against all of these outcomes, with protection
against hospitalization and death greater than 90%. Most vaccinated
people who do get COVID have either no symptoms or very mild symptoms
and are much less likely to be hospitalized or die.

How do we know the vaccines are safe in the long term? In the history of
vaccine research, most vaccine side effects appear within a few weeks and
almost all appear within six months. We now have data for well beyond six
months for people who have received the COVID-19 vaccines, and it
continues to show they are extremely safe. More than 360 million doses
have been given in the US. At no point were shortcuts taken or safety
compromised.
 Rajinder Bajwa, MD Kathleen Grisanti, MD Sucharita Paul, MD, MPH
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Pediatric and Adolescent Urgent Care of UBMD Emergency Medicine
WNY
Gale Burstein, MD, MPH Mark F. Perry, MD
Erie County Department of Health Karen L. Hall, EdD Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Population Health Collaborative Western New York
Richard A. Carlson, Jr., MD
Primary Care IPA Ed Heidelberger, MD, PhD John Sellick, DO, MS
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital VA Western New York Healthcare
Richard Charles, MD System
General Physician, PC Donna Kahm, SPHR
Southern Tier Health Care System Samuel Shatkin, MD
Joe Chow, MD Aesthetic Associates Centre
WNY Immediate Care Allana Krolikowski, MD
Jericho Road Kevin Shiley, MD
Tyler Connine, MD Catholic Health
UB Emergency Medicine Residency Jeffrey Lackner, Psy.D.
UB Division of Behavioral Medicine David Spagnolo
Anne Constantino, MS Kalos Health
Horizon Corporations Michael K. Landi, MD
Invision Health Stephen Turkovich, MD
Charlotte Crawford, RN, MSN, MBA Oishei Children's Hospital
Lake Plains Community Care Network Charlene Ludlow, RN, MHA
Erie County Medical Center Willie Underwood, MD, MSc, MPH
Tanvir Dara, MD Buffalo Center for Health Equity
WellNow Urgent Care James C. Matteliano, DDS
Eighth District Dental Society Raul Vazquez, MD
Kathleen Dyson, MD Urban Family Practice
Community Pediatric Associates of WNY Jason Matuszak, MD
Excelsior Orthopaedics Andrea J. Wanat, MA
Aimana ElBahtity, Esq. Value Network IPA
Medical Society of Erie County Mike Merrill, MD
Independent Health Marty Wesolowski, DO, MBA
John Fudyma, MD, MPH Martin's Point Healthcare
Latus Medical Care Jennifer McVige, MD
Dent Neurologic Institute Joyce Zmuda, MD
Ken Garbarino, MD Optimum Physician Alliance
Family Choice of New York Jamie Nadler, MD
Kaleida Health
Kevin Gibbons, MD
UBMD Margaret Paroski, MD, MMM
Catholic Medical Partners

Buffalo Healthy Living is a media sponsor of the WNY COVID-19 Working Group.

The ILI/COVID Working Group of Western New York was formed in response to local variation in approach to the diagnosis and treatment of
Influenza-Like-Illness and COVID-19 in the region. It is a collaborative effort of hospital systems, academic departments, independent practice
associations, and insurers. The logos and signatures on this document represent the organizations’ support of this statement.

Legal Notice and Disclaimer: Please note that the information contained in these resources does not establish a standard of care, nor does it
constitute legal or medical advice. These guidelines reflect the best available data at the time the information was prepared. The results of future
studies may require revisions to the information in this guideline to reflect new data. This information is not intended to replace individual provider
clinical judgment in the care of their patients. Neither this workgroup, or any contributor to this effort, makes any representations or warranties,
express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.