Cultural nuances and growing mistrust of government create barriers to health education. A polio outbreak in July of 2022 in Rockland County, NY exposed a low polio vaccination rate among children under 5. The Pediatric Health Awareness Campaign was created and tailored to myriad unique aspects of the community as a one-week targeted push to reach local pediatricians, parents and caregivers to ensure children have received up-to-date vaccinations.

The Orthodox Jewish community includes large demographics with little or no access to social media due to cultural and religious choice. The Pediatric Health Awareness Campaign reached this community through mediums outside of the norm including mass group calls, phone-in hotline, WhatsApp posts, print ads in local weekly publications, an animated video in both English and Yiddish mirroring the community’s realities, coloring books, local doctor involvement, billboard and screen ads and more. All aspects were endorsed by trusted local non-profit health organizations and community pediatricians.

Results: Over the course of one week, posts were viewed by 5k+ daily, 5k coloring books were distributed, calls went out to 16k homes, the videos were viewed by 1k+, close to 4k called in to the hotline and print ads were distributed to 15k+ homes.

This campaign is a prototype representing the ideal means by which communities of unique cultures, languages and religions can and should receive health education. By working within the community, collaborating with trusted leaders and organizations, and tailoring the type and style of educational mediums, barriers are broken and goals accomplished.