As missed vaccinations in youth have risen in recent years, EverThrive Illinois (ETI) wants to make sure all young people are protected against preventable diseases. COVID-19 is no exception. We’ve been leading the charge to educate health care providers on vaccine hesitancy, while also generating broader awareness of vaccine availability in local communities. We give guidance that comes from a place of shared compassion: the wellness of children, and ultimately families.
The COVID-19 vaccine effort has been met with understandable concerns, especially in populations that have been hit hard or those that historically have not had easy access to equitable health care. All parents have their child’s best interests at heart and ETI wants to address people’s concerns head on.
Why Parents are Not Seeking COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth:
Parents are apprehensive.
Often times, parents fear adverse or long-term effects more than the effects caused by illness, or they do not have access to updated information. ETI is creating parent education tools to be distributed by outreach workers within the communities with the lowest vaccination rates. We also promote vaccine confidence by providing health care workers with the information they need to remain compassionate. We work with local social service providers and other trusted community organizers who can speak to the benefits of vaccination, helping families feel informed and secure.
Parents need ease of access.
Working parents may find it difficult to coordinate vaccinations for their family if they struggle with access to convenient locations, childcare, or time in their busy schedule. ETI makes it easier by facilitating access for adolescents at their local school-based health centers (SBHC).
What EverThrive Illinois Does to Boost Vaccination Rates:
ETI’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Initiative will increase vaccination rates in the Chicago neighborhoods with the lowest first-dose vaccination rates by expanding the reach of trusted messengers in these communities, facilitating community education outreach, and digital media strategies.
We lead initiatives that make an impact.
- We provide upwards of 15,000 individuals living in Black and brown communities in Chicago with science-based education and face-to-face connection to immunization providers.
- We host immunization seminars to connect health care and social service providers who are serving communities most impacted by health disparities. We provide up-to-date information about vaccine preventable diseases and resources to improve quality of care.
- We assemble a statewide immunization coalition comprised of representatives from departments of public health, health care systems, and social service providers to coordinate statewide vaccine strategies, identify epidemiological trends, disseminate data, and create messaging campaigns to share science-based information directly with communities.
- We create and facilitate digital media campaigns to promote vaccination, combat misinformation online, and connect people to vaccine providers. Our successful flu promotion campaign received 5.6 million impressions online in just four months.
EverThrive Illinois’ mission is to achieve reproductive justice in the health care ecosystem through community-driven partnership, policy action, and systems change. We envision a just and affirming health care ecosystem where individuals, families, and communities can thrive.
Please consider donating today.