In partnership with Focus on the Word, the State of California has launched “Shot of Faith,” a campaign designed to engage the African-American faith-based community and provide critical information about COVID-19 vaccine access, safety, and equity.
The statewide, multi-faceted campaign kicked off with a webinar with the Baptist Ministers Conference. In addition to webinars, the partnership includes town halls, pastor testimonials, and vaccination pop-up sites.
The virtual webinars and town halls will provide opportunities for Black/African American clergy and their congregations to meet with trusted medical experts and state representatives for answers to their vaccine questions and up-to-date information. Pastors will share their COVID-19 testimonials on ShotofFaith.org and across their social media platforms.
“The State recognizes the influence and impacts clergy and churches have within the Black/African-American community,” said California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. “With their support, we know that we can envision a day when California reaches community immunity.”
Pastors and churches involved include Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Faithful Central Bible Church; Dr. Michael J.T. Fisher of Greater Zion Church Family; Pastors Shep and Shalonda Crawford of ECM Ministries; Pastor George Hurtt of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church; and Bishop Robert Douglass of Inglewood Ministerial Alliance.
The campaign encourages the community to remain vigilant against COVID-19 by continuing to practice safe behaviors like wearing a mask correctly, washing hands, watching physical distance, and getting vaccinated.
“Educating the faith community is key,” said K.W. Tulloss, senior pastor of Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church and president, Baptist Minister’s Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California. “As trusted advisors, it’s critical that we get the word out about the vaccinations and direct our parishioners to available resources as well as to medical experts able to answer the many questions that have arisen out of this COVID-19 pandemic.”
Californians can visit MyTurn.ca.gov or VaccinateALL58.com, or call (833) 422-4255 to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated.
