The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has unveiled a new campaign to encourage long term care residents and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The association said it will deploy branded materials, including posters, buttons, and window placards, as well as digital and media engagement, to achieve the campaign’s goal to ensure people in long term care facilities are aware the COVID-19 vaccine is available and that they get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“Vaccination is the best tool we have had in the ongoing fight against this historic threat,” said Mark Parkinson, the president and chief executive officer of AHCA/NCAL.

“The faster we get people vaccinated, the more lives we can save. We believe this educational effort will help our residents and staff make informed decisions that will safeguard not only their own health, but also the communities where they live and work.”

Branded collateral and informational materials have been shared with AHCA/NCAL members across the country. Using the hashtag #GetVaccinated, the association said the campaign also seeks to raise awareness online, especially among family members of residents. By encouraging their loved ones to get vaccinated, family members can play an important role in the effort to eradicate the virus from long term care settings, the association said.

“While delivery of a vaccine is an important milestone, it will only work if people take it,” Parkinson said. “By working with our members to provide staff, residents, and family members with the facts and information they need, we can hopefully begin to put this threat behind us. In the meantime, we must remain vigilant and continue to rally around our heroic caregivers and vulnerable residents.”

Find examples of the campaign’s branded materials at www.ahcancal.org/getvaccinated.