Columbia County health experts say COVID vaccines are safe and effective

In op-eds in Columbia County newspapers, these Columbia County health experts have added their voices to many others by urging community members to protect themselves, their families and our community by getting vaccinated. You can read more about what each has said about COVID and vaccination below.

  • Dr. Joseph Lalka, a family physician in Columbia County since 1991, writes that all three Covid vaccines are "safe and effective," “We need to work together,” and "Getting the Covid vaccine is an act of love."

    Read Dr. Lalka’s full op-ed in The Columbia Paper here.

  • Vaccines are central to any plan to bring an end to the current pandemic," says Dr. Deborah Maine, maternal health expert, longtime Columbia County resident and member of our Advisory Group.

    There's more on the history of gains from vaccination in New York State and the US in Dr. Maine’s Register-Star op-ed.

  • Columbia Memorial Health Vice President Dr. Ronald Pope writes, "98% of physicians in the US have received full vaccination... this sends a clear message to society about our faith in the COVID vaccination."

    Dr. Pope's full op-ed in The Register-Star.

  • Columbia County's Dr. Ananthakrishnan Ramani of Albany Medical School writes, "As an infectious disease specialist ... I implore all to get the benefit of the vaccine and to keep our communities, especially our children, safe so that we can get back to life as we knew it before this pandemic.”

    Read Dr. Ramani’s full Columbia Paper op-ed here.

  • Michael Seserman, past President of the New York State Public Health Association, explains that getting vaccinated protects our community, particularly the most vulnerable.

    Read his full op-ed in The Columbia Paper.