Community Health Kids Share Vaccine Reactions in Award Winning Video

When kids Covid-19 vaccines became available, Community Health Director of  Communications and Development Jill Jesso-White decided to document the brave, excited, adorable children who came for their first shots.

“We wanted to make this an experience that made them feel special and powerful, and let them know that we appreciate their reactions and their thoughts after having experienced the pandemic at their young ages. So, we decided to hear directly from them,” she said.

The Vermont Association of Broadcasters awarded videographer Andrew Wilson “Outstanding TV PSA Produced by a Production Company” for his staging, production and creation of a 30-second public service announcement for Community Health.

“I’m really proud of this PSA we produced with Community Health. Working unscripted with kids as young as six was entertaining and, at times, heartbreaking,” Wilson said. “It was obvious how much they understood how serious the pandemic has been and how much it has affected them. They were genuinely eager to tell their stories about why they wanted to get vaccinated.”

This is the third year Wilson and his video production company, WestView Digital Video & Design, have been recognized for a “Production of the Year” by the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.

Click here to see the full video or watch on Community Health’s website https://www.chcrr.org/ or on our YouTube channel.

When Community Health Pediatrics began offering the vaccines to children ages 5-18, they created a welcoming safe superhero decorated space for the children so they weren’t intimidated by the thought of getting a vaccine. “We have administered Covid vaccines to 1,072 distinct patients between the ages of 5 and 18 years,” said Tracy Upton, RN, Director of Community Health Clinical Services.

This week, Community Health Pediatrics started offering Covid vaccines for children ages six months to four years.

Wilson said his favorite kid vaccine comment was, “Getting the shot hurt less than getting poked with a sharp stick. It was kinda like getting poked with a blunt stick. Even less.”

For more information about vaccines for kids, contact Community Health Pediatrics at 802-773-9131.

Community Health is Vermont’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), a network of primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, dental and pharmacy services with offices in Rutland, Brandon, Castleton, West Pawlet and Shoreham. Community Dental offices are located in Rutland and Shoreham; Community Kids Dental is in Rutland; Community Health Pediatrics is in Rutland and Behavioral Health services are available at all of our locations. Community Health Express Care Centers, open 7 days a week, are located at the Rutland and Castleton Community Health Centers. For career opportunities at Community Health’s network of health care services, check our Career Center.

The mission of Community Health (Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region) is to be the foremost integrated community health center providing quality and collaborative care that is accessible to all people, in order to live their best lives and build stronger communities.