DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The Dallas Regional Chamber launched the “Take Care of Business” multimedia vaccine public awareness campaign on Wednesday with a goal to get more North Texans vaccinated.
The chamber hopes to increase the percentage of North Texans ages 16 and older receiving at least one vaccination shot from the current 60% to 70% this summer. One in three North Texas small businesses have closed their doors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the DRC’s Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker from May 23. To enable more businesses to stay open and continue to thrive, the chamber believes 600,000 more North Texans need to be vaccinated in the coming months.
The initial campaign includes targeted social media, outdoor billboard advertising, and a microsite which will serve as an information hub for vaccinations and a sweepstakes tied to the campaign.
“Getting the vaccine is about protecting you, but that’s not all it’s about. It’s also about protecting the employees of every North Texas business so they can fully reopen and get back to the life they deserve. And that’s everyone’s business,” says Dale Petroskey, President and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber.
Later this summer, the DRC will offer prizes in random drawings as incentives for residents to get vaccinated. The prizes have been donated by DRC members and other community partners, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Dallas Wings and FC Dallas and will range from prime seats for local professional sporting events to free roundtrip airline tickets.
On June 23, DRC will launch the public service announcement phase of the campaign. The PSA campaign will be featured on local television and radio, through audio announcements in local grocery stores and on video screens in physicians’ waiting rooms across North Texas.
The campaign is making a special effort to reach communities of color, which have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Hispanic Texans make up 40% of the population, but account for 52% of the reported COVID-19 cases and just 33% of vaccinations to date. Black Texans make up 12% of the population, but account for 15% of the reported COVID-19 cases and just 8% of the vaccinations to date.
“Vaccinations are the key to getting back to business in North Texas,” says Michelle Vopni, Dallas Office Managing Partner for EY and chair of the Board of the Dallas Regional Chamber. “When you choose to get vaccinated, you’re choosing to support the businesses that make our region thrive. It’s time to
unmask and support our businesses again, but to do so, North Texans must get vaccinated. That’s why today, we’re asking you, your neighbors and your employees to get vaccinated.”
The campaign will include supporting mobile vaccinations at community events such as the Juneteenth March at Fair Park and the Juneteenth Unity Weekend Celebration and partnerships with community organizations such as Abounding Prosperity, Behind Every Door, and Concord Church to host vaccination
drives. Additionally, the campaign will sponsor a phone bank to reach people in communities of color with the facts about the vaccines. The campaign will also partner with other local North Texas business organizations, such as Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and Plano Chamber of Commerce, to provide North Texans with the information they need to get vaccinated.
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