Health Communications Class Develops Media Toolkit in Partnership with KCDOH

SOMERS, Wis. – Students in Communication 340: Health Communications class developed a media toolkit to provide information and resources that can be used for disseminating messages to college students regarding the topic of COVID-19 in partnership with Kenosha County Division of Health (KCDOH).

“I wanted my students to take on this task of creating a media toolkit as a way of trying to have a positive impact and help the community during the pandemic. Along the way, they found that many of their peers had many unanswered questions when it came to the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said professor Theresa Castor. “Our purpose was to help make a push towards vaccine advocacy, especially to students who didn’t know much about the vaccine or were hesitant on receiving the vaccine.”

The materials created are available for public use and may be adjusted for specific communities that they are being disseminated to. The toolkit includes FAQ sheets, three podcasts, sample posts for social media, a video blog along with a flyer, articles and other important links.

Many of the students enrolled in the class also share their perspectives on the project and the pandemic, including senior Daisy Ruiz. Daisy is a communication major, minoring in history with a certificate in conflict management.

“The reason why it’s so important for me to get the vaccine is because many of my family members are immunocompromised and I want to make sure everyone I’m around is safe,” said Daisy. “I am hoping that by doing this project, it can give people a peace of mind by showing them that the vaccine is effective and safe for everyone who is eligible to receive it.”

To access the Media Toolkit, please visit the Vaccine Media Toolkit webpage and to learn more about the students who created the materials, click here.

As the nature of the COVID-19 virus is continually changing, we understand that it’s associated vaccinations and ongoing updates related to policies and practices may change as well. The class encourages you to double-check the accuracy of the information and reach out if any changes or inaccuracies present themselves.