State of Hawai‘i Dept. of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Statewide Communications Program

Best of Show Award - 2022 PRSA Hawai‘i Koa Anvils
No one was prepared for the unprecedented and evolving COVID-19 public health crisis that started in 2020 and disrupted nearly every aspect of life in our state and across the world. Vaccinating the public required swift partnership, collaboration, and ingenuity among government, businesses, nonprofits, the faith community, and communications professionals.

Olomana Loomis ISC partnered with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health to develop and coordinate a statewide strategic communications plan to promote COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, including among at-risk populations, the vaccine-hesitant, ethnic groups, and the socioeconomically underserved.

Planning involved four phases based on vaccine availability and priority groups. Tactics included: market research, community outreach, virtual events, digital marketing, social media, social influencers, websites, advertising and paid media, public relations, crisis communications, and equity and access efforts.

Hawaii’s vaccination program would not have been successful if it weren’t for the team effort among many organizations and people who rallied behind the message of #HIGotVaccinated. As a result, Hawai‘i became the first state in the U.S. to vaccinate 90 percent of eligible residents ages 12 and older.

No one was prepared for the unprecedented and evolving COVID-19 public health crisis that started in 2020 and disrupted nearly every aspect of life in our state and across the world. Vaccinating the public required swift partnership, collaboration, and ingenuity among government, businesses, nonprofits, the faith community, and communications professionals.

Olomana Loomis ISC partnered with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health to develop and coordinate a statewide strategic communications plan to promote COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, including among at-risk populations, the vaccine-hesitant, ethnic groups, and the socioeconomically underserved.

Planning involved four phases based on vaccine availability and priority groups. Tactics included: market research, community outreach, virtual events, digital marketing, social media, social influencers, websites, advertising and paid media, public relations, crisis communications, and equity and access efforts.

Hawaii’s vaccination program would not have been successful if it weren’t for the team effort among many organizations and people who rallied behind the message of #HIGotVaccinated. As a result, Hawai‘i became the first state in the U.S. to vaccinate 90 percent of eligible residents ages 12 and older.