ROCHESTER, Minn. — 73-year-old Mike Kelsey of Rochester relishes his role as a grandfather of six. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he was devastated not to be able to see the grandkids who live down the street and who affectionately call him “papa.”
“I've had four shots and I will take that fifth shot to be able to be with my family,” Kelsey said. “It’s important for all those healthcare givers, that when I can get vaccinated and not get sick, I will not end up in the emergency room or the high care unit. It frees it up for those people that really need it,” he added.
Kelsey 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 like Kelsey who are active in their communities including Janet Timmerman, the former director of the Murray County Historical Society based in Slayton. Another participant was longtime County Commissioner Warren Strandell of East Grand Forks whose wife died of COVID-19 before vaccines were available. Community activist Portia Johnson of Duluth also volunteered to share her strong belief that getting vaccinated shows your consideration for other people.
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.
