SJHS launches vaccine influencer campaign in South Bend
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brandon Blumenherst
Social Media Account Manager
Saint Joseph Health System
574-335-4567 (Office)
574-404-1048 (Cell)
brandon.blumenherst@sjrmc.com
MISHAWAKA, Ind. (April 9, 2021) — Today, Saint Joseph Health System (SJHS), a member of Trinity Health, launched It Starts Here, a COVID-19 vaccine education initiative focused on communities of color.
SJHS engaged with and provided grants to six local organizations La Casa de Amistad; Kingdom Christian Center Church; Imani Unidad, Inc.; Robinson Community Learning Center; South Bend Heritage Foundation and the St. Joseph County Department of Health to talk about the facts of vaccination. The campaign addresses common concerns surrounding the vaccine, especially concerns of those who are vaccine-hesitant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19-related deaths are highest among those in the Hispanic or Latino and Black communities in the United States. Recognizing a long history of mistrust in the health community from those of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, this campaign centers around an intentional, targeted approach to address vaccine hesitancy.
The It Starts Here campaign, running in 13 other communities across the country, focuses on raising awareness and elevating trust in COVID-19 vaccinations among vulnerable communities.
“To date, we’ve administered nearly 543,000 vaccine doses to people in our communities across the United States,” said Dr. Daniel Roth, executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Trinity Health. “While this is a remarkable feat, we will continue to measure our success by how we make a difference for those in underserved populations.”
Use this video link to hear from Latorya Greene, director of Community Health & Well-Being and Tobacco Initiatives, about the It Starts Here campaign. The video also includes how two organizations, Imani Unidad, Inc. and La Casa de Amistad, will be directing campaign outreach.
About Saint Joseph Health System
Saint Joseph Health System (SJHS) is a not-for-profit healthcare system located in North Central Indiana that offers acute-based hospital care and post-acute services including: community wellness, home care, physician clinics, outpatient services, independent and assisted senior living, memory care and affordable senior apartments. SJHS includes: Mishawaka Medical Center; Plymouth Medical Center; Outpatient services of the Elm Road Medical Campus; Health Insurance Services; Saint Joseph Physician Network; VNA Home Care; the Senior Living Communities at St. Paul's, Holy Cross and Trinity Tower; and Saint Joseph PACE. SJHS serves more than 200,000 members of the Michiana community annually. SJHS is a Regional Health Ministry of Trinity Health in Livonia, Michigan.
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the nation, serving diverse communities that include more than 30 million people across 22 states. Trinity Health includes 92 hospitals, as well as 113 continuing care locations. Based in Livonia, Michigan, and with annual operating revenues of $18.8 billion, the organization returns $1.3 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. Trinity Health employs 123,000 colleagues, including 6,800 employed physicians and clinicians. For more information, visit www.trinity-health.org.
You can also follow Trinity Health on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
- It Starts Here English: https://youtu.be/aYfLTlG0XkQ
- It Starts Here Spanish: https://youtu.be/8jl6i8HVwQQ
- Vaccine Clinic Transition Video: https://youtu.be/Ci_PSBN2jSY