Vaccine Equity Group Launches In FDL County

The Fond du Lac Vaccine Equity Team has been created to advance health equity by promoting a better understanding of the COVID-19 vaccine, debunking misinformation, and helping the Fond du Lac County Public Health Department reach out to communities historically underserved by access to healthcare that included people of color, elderly, LBGTQ+, and rural residents.

“In 2021, nine vaccine pop-up tents were set up around the FDL
community and nearly 300 adults received COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Tina Potter, FDL United Way Grant Coordinator.

Vaccination continues to be an important strategy for preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19. Now that children ages five to eleven are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, many parents, guardians, and caregivers have questions.

The Health Department and United Way are taking the lead to implement a vaccine ambassador program in the community. The training for vaccine ambassadors includes two parts: the first is an online self-paced course called Vaccine Ambassador Training; How to Talk to Parents. The program was developed by John Hopkins University and Medicine International Vaccine Access Center.

The second part of the training is in-person, providing the opportunity to practice what was learned in the online course as well as time to ask an SSM Health Fond du Lac Regional Clinic Family Medicine Physician questions.

The training will be launched in July and will include participation from
parents, guardians, caregivers, and others who volunteer with children that support the immunization needs of children and families in our communities.

No specific background, knowledge, or profession is required for this training. The training is four hours and will be split into two sessions; two hours online and two hours in person. The course prepares individuals to be Vaccine Ambassadors by providing them with the latest knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, how to engage others in conversation about their hesitancy in a respectful and empathetic way, and how to promote vaccine acceptance.

Vaccine Ambassadors will also be able to direct others to credible sources for further information about vaccines and recognize and respond to misinformation.

Individuals can call FDL County Health Department at 920-929-3085 with questions and register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZX98T99.