Photo Credit: David Weinreb, Hearst Media
If you don’t trust the messenger, why would you listen to the message?
Connecticut public health professionals believe that’s why certain groups are reluctant to get the Covid-19 vaccine. These populations include younger adults, native Spanish speakers, and communities of color.
So the state tackled the problem by hiring consultants to find and train “trusted messengers.” These are people living in the communities where vaccination rates are behind or there’s a high level of resistance. The messengers are given the tools and support to convince their peers to become vaccinated.
MCG has been working behind-the-scenes on this initiative, and the results have been powerful.
In the last several months, more than 145 organizations and 500-plus participants have received the training. The trusted messengers go door-to door in their neighborhoods, organize pop-up vaccine clinics in shopping plazas, and put up flyers with vaccine information in areas where people are known to congregate, all to help push the state toward its goal of herd immunity.
Additionally, Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced that the Connecticut Department of Public Health is partnering with the Connecticut chapters of nine historically African American, Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities to further combat Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy and increase access to the vaccine within the state’s Black and Brown communities. As a result of this partnership, the nine historically African American fraternities and sororities will be holding a series of free town hall events that will include discussions with well-known doctors, clinicians, and public servants who are members of each of the nine sororities and fraternities and serve as trusted messengers on the vaccines.
While the trusted messengers may find the best ways to effectively deliver the information, the key message transcends any community: The vaccine will protect you from getting Covid-19, and help keep those important to you safe.