Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

Historically, health challenges have been exacerbated in certain underserved communities. The effort to vaccinate Pennsylvanians against the dangerous COVID-19 virus is paramount to our ability to return to the economic, cultural, and social lives that existed before the pandemic. Yet vaccine rates are lower in communities with histories of medical mistrust and healthcare discrimination. What's more, the misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine can make it difficult for community members to know what the best option is for them.
 
To that end, I will be introducing legislation to allocate $5 million from the American Rescue Act to fund trusted messenger strategies to promote the  COVID-19 vaccine. Trusted messenger organizations will be community-based organizations primarily serving Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, Asian American and disabled communities. These organizations will be selected by Pennsylvania Department of Health and will have developed strong relationships within their communities to deliver science-based messaging on the COVID-19 vaccine and immunization process.
 
We tend to trust our neighbor over our politicians. People depend on the people standing with them, not the people talking at them from the television or a podium. That's why trusted messenger strategies are proven to work. Please consider co-sponsoring this piece of legislation.