Promoting Vaccine Equity

In September, Healthy Acadia launched two peer-led campaigns aimed at promoting vaccine equity, improve access to accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccines, and reduce vaccination hesitancy among youth and young adults ages 15-29, and individuals in recovery.

We’ve assembled two teams of incredibly talented and enthusiastic community members from across Hancock and Washington counties who are working to plan, coordinate, and conduct peer outreach activities, education, and communication campaigns to reach youth and people in recovery from substance use disorder.

The project, funded by a grant from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, will support the targeted outreach efforts of the two teams through December 2021. The teams are employing a combination of direct peer outreach and self-created multimedia campaign messaging in an effort to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among eligible residents in Washington and Hancock counties and across Maine.

Maine Recovery Core Intern Audra Stewart, a member of the team working to connect with the recovery community, recently shared her COVID-19 vaccination story. You can hear Audra sharing her story on local radio stations 106.5 FM and 95.7 FM throughout the month of November:

My name is Audra, and like others, I was hesitant to get the Covid-19 vaccine. I have a number of medical conditions, one of which is severe asthma that has left me intubated on several occasions. I was scared that there would be something in the vaccine that could potentially put my life in danger. 

I waited for several months after the vaccines initially started rolling out and did my own personal research and was still unsure. Then I spoke to a medical professional that has been with me when my asthma was at its worst, he told me the facts about the vaccine then urged me to get it. Also, during the time of my research, my friend with COPD and other medical issues like mine got the vaccine. She was perfectly fine afterward and did not experience any harmful side effects. After that, I called my doctor’s office and made the appointment. Though I was nervous, I did it! 

I am so happy that I did! It felt great knowing that just by getting a shot, I could keep myself, my family, and my friends safe from this deadly virus. 

This message is brought to you by the Vaccine Equity team at Healthy Acadia, with support from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.