And Just Like That: Nicole Ari Parker Spreads COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness

Actress Nicole Ari Parker is ready for some traveling and holiday season fun with family. She credits her peace of mind while traveling during the winter season with her decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The “And Just Like That” star recently partnered with Novavax and Healthy Women on the Choose to Protect campaign to help spread the word on the importance of being vaccinated. 

While COVID is no longer the “public health emergency” it once was, Parker wants people to know it’s not over and it’s still important to stay on top of vaccines.

“Well first of all, you and I both know that we’re no longer in a public health emergency but COVID isn’t over so I chose to join forces with Novavax and Healthy Women on the Choose to Protect campaign to really help raise awareness about COVID and the importance of being vaccinated,” she told The Blast exclusively. 

“For my family, it was really important to first get informed about our vaccine options to protect ourselves and our loved ones and then make the decision to get vaccinated - my husband, my kids and my parents.”

Parker remembers the feeling in 2020 of not knowing what’s to come and said that the vaccine has allowed her to “cherish the moments” more now.

“The pandemic was really hard, and people couldn’t go anywhere and had a lot of questions going through our heads - Will I get infected? Will I harm someone unknowingly? How will this affect my work?” she said. “And so, vaccines just really helped make it possible to get back to life and work and see those we love. The vaccines have really allowed us to cherish the moments that we have together.”

Parker and her husband, actor Boris Kodjoe, and their two kids love to travel, so she said keeping up with the vaccine schedule is a little easier with that motivation.

While many people will be traveling during the holiday season, staying healthy becomes that much more on people’s minds. Parker was happy to partner with Novavax and Healthy Women so she can help spread more awareness and encourage others to take necessary steps to staying healthy by getting the COVID vaccine. The Choose to Protect campaign offers all the important information, including science-based information, that can help everyone make informed decisions on the vaccine. 

“We’re not in a place where masks and extreme measures are being regulated anymore and mandatory but there’s so much information on choosetoprotect.com to help people support themselves during their travel and the holiday season,” she told The Blast.

"I just really love all the information that is there. Of course, speak with your healthcare provider. I want people to know that, that they shouldn’t be afraid or hesitant to talk to their healthcare provider. But to also really learn more about your options by going to choosetoprotect.com."

Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is over, Parker is ready to get back to work in front of the cameras. She just closed a play in New York and said theater is her "first love."

“I work in television and film but theater is my first love, and so I just closed a play in New York and it was just wonderful to be maximized again," she told The Blast. "The stage uses every part of you, not just the close up. It was a three hour and 20-minute play and was wonderful.”

Talking about the recent SAG strike, she said, "The strike is over! That was a rough one" and that she's ready to get back on set to film another season of "And Just Like That."

“'And Just Like That' will be going back into production for season three. We’re happy about that. And I’ll get back to work," she said.

"The theater world, they went on strike a while back and everything was settled so it was wonderful to be able to go to work in theater. But yes, to get back to that amazing show with that amazing cast, I’m really looking forward to it.”

For more information on the COVID vaccine and the Choose to Protect campaign, visit their website.