Courtesy image.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — As a health care organization, Kaiser Permanente has an obligation to ensure the health and safety of our members, patients, employees, physicians, and the communities we serve.
Taking into consideration that our Southern California region is experiencing a 26% COVID-19 positivity rate, and Los Angeles County currently has a 17.6% positivity rate and in consultation with our infectious disease experts, we have decided to continue to have our “A Healthier Future” float participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade.?Unfortunately, we will not feature our 20 front-line medical heroes as float riders and “out-walkers.” We must prioritize the health and safety of our front-line medical staff and ensure we are able to treat patients during this recent surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant.
The emergence of the omicron variant does not change what you can do now to protect your health and the health of your family. Vaccination continues to provide the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and its variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends full vaccination for everyone 5 years of age and older. Booster shots are also very important and are available for anyone 16 years of age and older who has completed an initial vaccine series.
In addition to recommending vaccinations and boosters, Kaiser Permanente joins state and federal health officials in recommending continued key prevention measures such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings, frequent handwashing, getting tested at the first sign of symptoms, and staying home when sick.
Kaiser Permanente has a total of 39 hospitals and 730 medical offices across its eight operating markets, including Market Street Medical Offices in Ventura, California.
Kaiser Permanente’s 2022 Rose Parade® float theme, “A Healthier Future,” celebrates the dedication and talents of our health care heroes and the possibilities that exist when passionate people come together to use their expertise for the greater good. The float embodies the 2022 Tournament of Roses® parade theme, “Dream. Believe. Achieve.,” a celebration that childhood dreams become careers that make the world a better place.
This year, Kaiser Permanente’s 16th annual float entry features four children exploring, imagining, and daring to dream about one day making a difference in the world. The child with the stethoscope caring for the teddy bear “Booster,” embodies the dream of one day becoming nurses and doctors. The child reading a book represents researchers like those whose work helped uncover medical advancements such as the COVID-19 vaccine. The child with a telescope pays homage to the innovators like those at the Garfield Center imagining the future of health care. The child in a lab coat with scientific instruments represents the students at Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena who are the next generation of care givers.
“We at Kaiser Permanente are committed to contributing to a world where all people and communities thrive, and everyone has what they need to live a healthy, joyful life,” said Greg Adams, chair and chief executive officer, Kaiser Permanente. “We truly believe this dream is possible, and we’ve made it our mission to achieve it — by delivering tomorrow’s health care, today.”