We are tired. We are overwhelmed. We need help.

A small, but powerful message from Meadville Medical Center as a small staff of doctors and nurses continue fighting COVID-19.

“Every day they come to work, they're getting beat,” Meadville Medical Center’s Dr. Kraeling told Erie News Now.

He says hospital staff are being asked to work extra shifts because of an increase in patients and a decrease in employees. On top of that, the holiday season has brought even more worries.

We asked if the hospital is worried about a post-Christmas COVID surge. "Absolutely,” said Dr. Kraeling. “I can guarantee you after January 1st, we're going to see a bunch of, a higher increase in cases for sure."

The mostly blank full page ad ends with three simple facts.

You can help. You can get fully vaccinated. You will be 14 times more likely to survive COVID-19.

Of the 30 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at MMC, 80% are unvaccinated.

“What's really disheartening is the look on our staff's face when they know they can't help somebody,” he said.

Right now, two people die every day on average in Crawford County. Only 46% of the county is fully vaccinated.

Dr. Kraeling and the hospital have one request, please help them by getting the shot.

“I can tell you the short term consequences of not being vaccinated, it could result in being a patient in the intensive care unit with a tube down your throat and a hole in your trachea with long term intubations and so forth. I just wouldn't want that for myself or my loved ones and family members at all,” he said.