Branding • Events
DeKalb County Board of Health
Promoting health equity through mobile vaccination drives.
Background
The DeKalb County Board of Health (DCBOH) plays a crucial role in providing essential health services, ranging from dental care to immunizations, to the diverse communities in Georgia. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, DCBOH recognized the urgent need to address health disparities and ensure equitable access to vaccinations. Partnering with Gordon Media Company, they had a mission to perform targeted outreach to minority communities and organize free vaccination drives.
Process
National statistics and data from DCBOH indicated that minority populations, particularly African Americans, were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. With this insight in mind, our approach focused on reaching and engaging these communities in DeKalb County, aiming to increase awareness and vaccine uptake.
Initially, we explored the idea of partnering with local churches to offer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, after extensive research and meaningful discussions with church leaders and community partners, we decided to leverage a local event that promised high attendance.
The Decatur Arts Festival, known for its annual turnout of 65,000 visitors, became our strategic choice to host a mobile vaccination site. To further incentivize participation, we provided attendees with gift cards, adding an extra level of encouragement.
Our work involved the placement of bold signage around the vaccination site within the festival grounds, effectively drawing attention, addressing common inquiries, and alleviating any concerns. Additionally, we hired a licensed nurse practitioner who was available to answer questions and address the skepticism of prospective patients.
Results
The mobile vaccination campaign conducted during the Decatur Arts Festival yielded remarkable results. Within just three hours, nearly 100 attendees received their COVID-19 vaccinations. This achievement was a testament to the effectiveness of our targeted outreach efforts and the commitment of DCBOH to promoting health equity.
Through our collaboration with the DeKalb County Board of Health, we successfully conducted a total of three mobile vaccination drives, striving to bridge health disparities and ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. By strategically partnering with the Decatur Arts Festival and offering incentives, we effectively engaged the community and fostered a positive response. The significant number of attendees who received vaccinations during the event underscored the impact of our outreach initiatives.