Georgia Uses Public Art to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination Confidence

To help build confidence for COVID-19 vaccination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on August 6, 2021, it is partnering with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and several other organizations on an innovative community initiative leveraging local artists as trusted vaccine messengers.

The COVID-19 Georgia Arts is a unique collaboration between CDC, the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, DPH, Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) Georgia, and two local arts organizations – Dashboard and Living Walls – to increase vaccine uptake through public art.

A series of recently launched art installations and events will continue throughout August in select neighborhoods in cities including Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens.

Some of the events – which focus on communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 – will feature pop-up vaccination sites, providing convenient opportunities to access COVID-19 vaccines.

“There is a long history in the U.S. of partnering with arts and media organizations to promote health education,” said Peggy Honein, Deputy Incident Manager for CDC’s COVID-19 Response, in a press statement.

“Local artists can play an important role in delivering fact-based information and serving as trusted messengers within their communities to increase confidence in vaccines."

"This is a truly unique opportunity to work together to demonstrate the power and potential of the arts as a public health strategy to protect communities.”

This pilot is part of DPH’s broader “Say ‘Yes’ to COVID-19 vaccines” campaign, and the lessons learned can be applied to communities nationwide.