The Health Foundation of Central Mass

65 Instead of relying on information from the government or institutions, the campaign believed that communication from local trusted messengers would be more effec- tive. e website served as a hub of vaccine information in multiple languages, listed vaccination locations, and featured video testimonials from community members and medical experts. e Family Health Center and the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center joined with Reliant Medical Group, Saint Vincent Medical Group, and UMass Medical Group to provide information through patients' electronic medical records portals, text messages, and Facebook. Dr. Jan Yost, e Health Foundation's founding president and CEO, emphasized that direct appeals from physi- cians were an effective approach to reach patients. e Belmont AME Zion Church, Covenant Saint Andrews United Meth- odist Church, and 14 community-based nonprofit human service organizations, including Abby's House, Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester, Pernet Family Health Service, and YMCA, connected with their members and clients through one-on-one conversations to encourage acceptance of the vaccine. e campaign offered training sessions to staff at these organizations prior to the conver- sations. In all, the organizations reported having 11,727 one-on-one conversations. e campaign ended on June 30, 2021, when Governor Baker announced the re- opening of businesses and other establish- ments in the Commonwealth. By mid-July 2021, nearly 60% of Worcester residents had been vaccinated; in Worcester County, 93.5% of residents had received one dose and 74.8% were fully vaccinated. Across the Commonwealth vaccination rates var - ied, ranging from a high of 100% with one dose (Suffolk County) to a low of 62% fully vaccinated (Berkshire County). n City announces public health vaccination campaign "Get Vaccinated Worcester" Isabel Sami, Telegram & Gazette May 25, 2021 WORCESTER — The city has partnered with nearly 40 groups in a widespread effort to boost the number of people vaccinated against COVID-19. A public health campaign to encourage vaccine acceptance called Get Vaccinated Worcester is going into effect, focused on direct outreach by health care providers and community-based organizations to educate those hesitant to get vaccinated. The city of Worcester's Division of Public Health collaborated with the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, which provided $100,000 to the campaign, and the Meyers Primary Care Institute, as well as 32 community-based nonprofit organizations and five medical providers to design and implement the campaign.

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