A selfie of a man of Asian descent with his two young sons standing behind him. One son looks annoyedand the other is laughing.

Maine DD Network’s New PSAs Encourage Parents to Get Their Children Vaccinated for COVID

April 14, 2022 CCIDS News

The Maine Developmental Disabilities Network (University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Disability Rights Maine, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, and Speaking Up for Us) collaborated with Gray Media Group (WAGM-TV) to design, produce and broadcast three video public service announcements (PSAs) to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated for COVID-19.

WAGM-TV is Aroostook County’s home to 4 networks – CBS, NBC, FOX, and the CW. They coordinated a regional broadcast campaign, as well as a digital Audience Targeting (AT) campaign that delivered targeted ads statewide over an 8-week period. 
 
The three video PSAs were also broadcast in the Bangor and Portland/Auburn markets for an 8-week period from mid-March to early May 2022.

The following video public service announcements feature parents and their children:

The campaign’s website, MaineVax.org, automatically redirects to VaccinateME, Maine’s Vaccination Appointment System. The campaign’s toll-free number, 1-888-445-4111, is Maine’s Community Vaccination Line.

Funding for this COVID-19 vaccination campaign was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administration for Community Living. Grantees included the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (90DDC50040), the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (2101MESCC5), and Disability Rights Maine (2101MEPAC5). Other contributing sponsors included Speaking Up for Us (Maine’s statewide organization run by and for people who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities) and WAGM-TV, which provided a 100% match of air time to the campaign.

The views expressed in these public service announcements are those of the participants and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, the Administration for Community Living, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. Government.

Photo of parent and his two sons courtesy of the parent.