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Biden administration takes on vaccine hesitancy with coalition of community, religious, celebrity partners

By Jordan Smith
Published  April 4, 2021 5:11pm EDT
Health
FOX TV Digital Team

Biden sets May 1 target to have all adults vaccine-eligible

President Joe Biden is outlined his plan to make all adult Americans eligible for vaccination by May 1 and get the nation back closer to normal by the Fourth of July.

WASHINGTON - Sometimes, the messenger matters as much as the message — and that’s why the Biden administration formed a coalition of community, religious and celebrity partners to promote COVID-19 shots as it seeks to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

It’s called the COVID-19 Community Corps. The Department of Health and Human Services said Americans can expect to see ads on television centered on the message of "We Can Do This."

And it will produce social media profile frames so everyday Americans can display their choice to get vaccinated, inspiring their loved ones to do the same.

RELATED: Vaccine hesitancy is the latest battle in the fight against COVID-19

More than 100 million Americans have already taken a COVID-19 vaccine, which the Food and Drug Administration has deemed safe and highly effective at preventing COVID-19.

But despite their efficacy and best efforts from public health officials, there’s still a percentage of the country unsure about taking it.

398ac835-President Biden Delivers Remarks On COVID-19 Response And State Of Vaccinations

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the COVID-19 response and the state of vaccinations in the South Court Auditorium at the White House complex on March 29, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

So the Biden administration is banking on trusted leaders in local communities, as well as major brands to echo that same public health messaging and instill trust in the vaccines.

The administration specifically built the coalition to target key demographics in American society, such as the NAACP, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the NFL. The demographics targeted include:

  • Rural
  • Union workers
  • Latinx
  • Black
  • Asian and Pacific Islanders
  • Native Americans
  • Veterans
  • Business
  • Religious
  • LGBTQ+

To see the full list of which leaders and brands are participating, click here.

The government expects all adults to be eligible for vaccines by May 1, but many states have already expanded eligibility to everyone older than 16.

This story was reported from Atlanta.