Experts say that as much as 90 percent of the population must achieve immunity to eliminate COVID-19. Yet there is a concerning level of lack of confidence in the vaccines, particularly in communities of color. People whose trust in government is low, may be wary of “the shot,” or do not have traditional health care attachments pose numerous challenges to getting the nation on a path to immunity in 2021. In this scenario, inequities will continue to exist in the deadly impacts of the coronavirus. Can philanthropy help?
Hear from two funders and their grantees about how they are fostering the needed partnerships with trusted community organizations and/or government health agencies responsible for vaccine distribution. Learn about philanthropic responses being undertaken to tackle the issues of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. The National League of Cities, a national association of over 2,000 local government leaders, will share how they are working with their members to promote equitable vaccine awareness, and will offer ideas for how funders can connect to their members’ efforts. This discussion will provide an opportunity for attendees to share what they are doing to promote vaccine education and outreach, particularly to communities of color.