How the White Mountain Apache Tribe Beat COVID

Alberto Mariani

June 30, 2021 |

Yes! Magazine |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, White Mountain Apache Nation, Arizona

The White Mountain Apache Tribe curbed COVID-19 death rates with contact-tracing, surveillance of high-risk people, and vaccinations. After a devastating COVID-19 outbreak, health officials began daily home visits to monitor vital signs of those who tested positive and those at greatest risk, allowing positive cases to be identified early. In combination with prior health outreach programs, this helped the team to form strong bonds with tribal members, which has been key to the program’s success. This familiarity has also helped them address vaccine hesitancy as they vaccinate people in their homes.

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Welcome to Marshall County: Rural, red and at the top in Kansas for COVID-19 vaccination

Kaylie McLaughlin

June 24, 2021 |

The Kansas Leadership Center Journal (KLC Journal) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Marysville, Kansas

The vaccination rate of Marshall County is six percentage points higher than the state overall, a success that is built on an existing infrastructure of public health and trust-building that predates the pandemic. The county made a detailed plan for the vaccine rollout well before vaccines arrived and residents trust the health department because it provides 90% of the population with routine immunizations. The health department also works one-on-one with residents to answer vaccine questions, which is a more effective way of combating misinformation than a generalized outreach campaign.

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Big shots: The multicultural hustle for herd immunity in New Orleans

Kaylee Poche Sarah Ravits

June 21, 2021 |

Gambit |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

As demand for vaccinations plateaued and vaccination rates in Louisiana lagged outside of New Orleans, health officials found a variety of targeted, small events to reach various subcultures. These pop-up events dealt in small numbers, but chipped away at people's hesitancy with easy access, information, and community leaders' endorsements. And, this being Louisiana, the vaccination events often featured music and local delicacies, from boiled crawfish to beignets and booze.

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When get-out-the-vote becomes get-out-the-vaccine

Hannah Grabenstein

June 17, 2021 |

MLK50 |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Memphis, Tennessee

The Shelby County Voter Alliance, who was used to using publicly available information to run get-out-the-vote and voter registration drives, pivoted to door-knocking to increase vaccination rates. Using a grant from Civic Nation’s Made to Save initiative, SCVA went to people’s homes to answer questions about vaccines and let them know about community vaccination pop-ups. They worked with local churches and set up at a Juneteenth celebration, where vaccines were offered. While canvassing, volunteers use a “research-based script” from Made to Save that especially helps them talk with “hesitant people.”

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India's healthcare workers are busting misinformation on WhatsApp

Sanket Jain

June 17, 2021 |

The Verge |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India

Accredited social health activists (ASHA) across India fight COVID-19 related misinformation on WhatsApp. ASHAs provide basic health care to people in their villages, which puts them on the frontline of treating COVID-19 patients and educating people to dispel the many myths about the virus and its treatments. ASHAs' local interactions often identify prevailing myths, which they quickly dispel in their face-to-face exchanges and by posting in the many local WhatsApp groups that have been created. The local groups have been an effective mode of educating people and helped ASHAs gain villagers’ trust.

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From $1-Million Lotteries to Free Beer: Do COVID Vaccination Incentives Work?

Tanya Lewis

June 17, 2021 |

Scientific American |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ohio

Several states are offering incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Ohio’s Vax-a-Million program was one of the first state-based cash lotteries, awarding five residents over 18 a $1-million prize and five full college scholarships to residents ages 12-17. Vaccination rates jumped 28% in the first week of the program. Other states have looked to boost vaccination rates by offering creative incentives in addition to cash lotteries, including prepaid grocery and subway cards, tickets to local attractions, hunting rifles, free beer, and even cannabis joints in Washington state.

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‘Bring the things to the people': Why tenants and experts want more vaccination options

Justin Chandler

June 15, 2021 |

TVO |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Hamilton, Ontario

After a COVID-19 outbreak at a Hamilton apartment complex, officials began offering on-site appointments, particularly for people who are homebound. About 1,400 people have gotten the shot at their residence and many more at pop-up clinics. The decentralized approach is more resource intensive but is effective at reaching people at high risk for contracting the virus. Doctors at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine used the patient-centered approach to vaccinate a pre-identified list of Scarborough residents, mapping routes to ensure vaccines were used up within their six-hour time limit.

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The Shot And A Shave: Inside A COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic At A Nashua Barbershop

Daniela Allee Gabriela Lozada

June 08, 2021 |

New Hampshire Public Radio |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashua, New Hampshire

Community health workers are engaging small business owners to host local COVID-19 vaccination clinics. These smaller clinics, like La Fama 2 Barbershop, are effective because of the strength of interpersonal relationships. At the barber shop, the atmosphere is relaxed and the owner knows the needs of his customers. To make the information and vaccines accessible to the local Latino community, the clinic held Saturday afternoon hours and community health workers were present with information in Portuguese and Spanish. It helps for friends and families to get vaccinated together, among people they trust.

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States Ply COVID Unvaccinated with Cash, Beer, Scholarships

Christine Vestal

June 04, 2021 |

Stateline |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ohio

States and businesses across the country are offering incentives, from entry into million-dollar lotteries, college scholarships, and gift cards to fulfilling fantasies like driving around Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway. Ohio was one of the first states to announce a vaccine lottery in which any adult resident that got vaccinated was entered into one of five weekly drawings to win $1 million. Ohio’s Vax-a-Million drawings were paid for with CARES Act relief money appropriated by Congress. Vaccination rates increased by 28% in the first week after the lottery was announced in Ohio.

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Community Ambassadors Are the Link to Toronto's Unvaccinated Populations

Brannavy Jeyasundaram

June 04, 2021 |

The Local |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Toronto, Ontario

Toronto’s Vaccine Engagement Teams Grant has awarded $5.5 million to community organizations in 140 neighborhoods to hire and train local ambassadors for vaccine outreach. Because the ambassadors share a lived experience with the communities, they can effectively identify the barriers people face. The on-the-ground effort includes sharing information, advocating for community needs, and helping people access services. The outreach focuses on people often overlooked by government services, such as unhoused people and people who do not speak English or have precarious immigration status.

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