The media outreach campaign will include radio, television, print and social media messages from February 15 through April 14.

 

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health announced a $25,000 grant designated to support a statewide outreach campaign to educate the Hispanic population in Idaho about the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

This poster is one of the elements of the outreach campaign that encourages Spanish speakers to get the COVID-19 vaccination.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that COVID-19 has negatively impacted Hispanics and Latinos more than other populations in the United States. According to CDC data, Hispanics and Latinos are hospitalized more than 4 times more often and die 2.8 times more often than non-Hispanic white people.

The Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the South Central Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are partnering to distribute the important message via multiple channels, including radio, television, print and social media. This effort is a continuation of a campaign that targeted the Spanish-speaking population in December 2020 and January 2021 that promoted the importance of wearing masks.

“We are working against a ticking time bomb,” said Margie Gonzalez, Executive Director, Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs. “There are many reasons why COVID-19 is a bigger threat to Hispanic people, including the fact that many are more likely to work in construction, housekeeping, grocery stores, and other essential services that put them at a higher risk of contracting the virus.”

“We are extremely thankful for this grant as it will help us promote the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Alex Casteñada, President and CEO of the South Central Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We know that providing accurate, trustworthy information will make a difference in helping fight the effects of COVID-19 in our communities.”