EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. — Warren Strandell’s wife Annie died of COVID-19 on November 3, 2020 on the day he was reelected to the Polk County Board of Commissioners. It was a time before vaccines were developed and when no hospital visitors were allowed. Warren said goodbye to Annie over the phone and he still misses her. “She is no longer there when I get up in the morning or when I come home each day. Her chair is empty,” Standell said. “Loneliness prevails in so many ways.”
Strandell is turning this painful memory into resilience and hope. “The reason I tell this story is to urge people to get their vaccinations and boosters,” he said. “I was the first in line to get the latest booster.” Strandell hopes that his friends and constituents will heed the call in advance of the oncoming flu season when experts fear another COVID-19 surge. “For you, your family and for all of us, your friends. We love you. Get the shots. Please,” Strandell wrote in a recent newsletter column.
Strandell 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. Warren Strandell has served as a County Commissioner representing East Grand Forks for 28 years. Another participant was Janet Timmerman, the former director of the Murray County Historical Society based in Slayton. Community activist Portia Johnson of Duluth also volunteered to share her strong belief that getting vaccinated shows 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.
