Duluth, Minn. — Jean Kurrle loves her job as a volunteer with the Senior LinkAge line where she counsels people about the ins and outs of Medicare. She has been doing so for several years, first where she lived in Wyoming and now from her apartment at the Ecumen Lakeshore looking out at Lake Superior in Duluth. “If we can help somebody in some way, we should make it our mission to do so,” according to Kurrle.
It was in this spirit that Kurrle volunteered to lend her voice to a statewide campaign to convince older Minnesotans to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. “I got vaccinated for a couple of reasons,” Kurrle said. “First of all, I didn't want to infect anybody around me and I wanted to protect myself, obviously. So, that just seemed like the best thing to do, “she added. Being vaccinated gives Kurrle “a peace of mind so she can be out, be active and be around people.”
Kurrle is one of 14 Minnesotans from all around the state who are featured in videos promoting the benefits of getting vaccinated and boosted. Viewers can watch these videos by visiting https://bit.ly/3BMpnNF.
The awareness project to promote getting the COVID-19 vaccine and booster in advance of the oncoming flu season is an effort by the Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging, who contracted with Pioneer PBS to create the campaign. The work was funded through a grant from the federal Older Americans Act through a grant with the Northwest Regional Development Commission under an area plan approved by the Minnesota Board on Aging. The intended audience for the campaign is older Minnesotans.
The project features several Minnesotans who are active in their communities. Kurrle is a key volunteer for the Senior LinkAge line. Another participant was Janet Timmerman, the former director of the Murray County Historical Society based in Slayton. Warren Strandell has served as a County Commissioner representing East Grand Forks for 28 years.
Videos, radio public service announcements, newspaper ads and social media posts are all part of the statewide campaign which is rolling out at the end of September. Anyone interested in using the assets created for the campaign is welcome to share these messages. For more information, contact Patrick Moore, communications director at Pioneer PBS: pmoore@pioneer.org or 320-841-1487.
