RSC & NREA join the COVID Collaborative
This ambitious effort to increase vaccine usage among rural Americans against COVID-19 draws from all sectors of smalltown America in a coordinated push.
Rural communities are places where folks come to gather, play sports, share meals, celebrate, and support one another. We are all ready to get back to these activities that define our towns.
Getting vaccinated is our best path forward to sustain the vitality of rural places - that is why Rural Schools Collaborative and NREA are proud to join The COVID Collaborative in support of the Rural Vaccine Initiative.
This ambitious effort to increase vaccine usage among rural Americans against COVID-19 draws from all sectors of smalltown America in a coordinated push. Representing one of the largest public vaccine education efforts in rural America, the COVID Collaborative, Health Action Alliance, Ad Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, Center for Rural Strategies, Rural America Chamber of Commerce, National League of Cities, the Daily Yonder, National Rural Health Association, and the Helmsley Charitable Trust are joining forces to roll out the concentrated education effort.
While 56% of rural residents report having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, rural America still lags the rest of the country in the proportion of eligible residents vaccinated, according to recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A key goal is to support rural community leaders and businesses as they engage with their residents in vaccine conversations. The effort includes the development of a resource library for rural vaccine uptake information, led by the National Rural Health Association, including conversation starter resources, and public service announcements. These new resources will help rural employers, small business owners and public sector employers share vaccine facts and improve access to vaccinations for employees and their families.
Below are key resources on how you can help get your community and schools get back to normal with the vaccine:
Setting up on-site vax clinics in your organization:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) On-Site Vaccination Clinic Toolkit
Invite a pediatrician/doctor to speak to your community about the COVID vaccine:
As part of efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence among parents and adolescents, pediatricians in every state across the U.S. are stepping up to serve as trusted medical voices to community organizations hosting vaccine education and outreach events. To get connected with a local pediatrician to invite to participate or speak at vaccine-related events, please follow these steps:
- Look up the AAP state, district, or county chapter in your community.
- Reach out via phone or email expressing interest in partnering with a local pediatrician to promote the COVID-19 vaccine for teens and parents (look under “contact us” or “about us”).
For teens and families:
- CDC guide for children and teens for vaccine: COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens | CDC
- CDC guide for talking to friends and families about vaccine: How to talk about COVID-19 vaccines with friends and family | CDC
For CBOs and FBOs
- Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccinations Toolkit
- Community-Based Organizations COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit | CDC
- Guide for faith-based organizations
Key vaccine facts + myth busters
- About COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC
- Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines (cdc.gov)
- Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC
For school based vax clinics
- Considerations for Planning School-Located Vaccination Clinics | CDC
- ASTHO toolkit for school-based vax clinics: Vaccination Clinics in Schools | State Public Health | ASTHO
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) On-Site Vaccination Clinic Toolkit
On parental consent
-COVID-19 Vaccination and Parental Consent | KFF
Where & How to get Vaccinated:
- Vaccines.gov (English) and Vacunas.gov (Spanish)
- Text your zip code to 438829 (GETVAX) in English or 822862 (VACUNA) in Spanish
- Call 1-800-232-0233 for assistance in English, Spanish, and 150+ other languages
About the COVID Collaborative
COVID Collaborative is a national assembly of experts, leaders and institutions in health, education and the economy and associations representing the diversity of the country to turn the tide on the pandemic by supporting federal, state and local COVID-19 response efforts. To learn more, visit www.CovidCollaborative.us, and follow the COVID Collaborative on Twitter and LinkedIn.