SU System continues vaccine education at Bayou Classic
The Southern University System continues its efforts across Louisiana to increase awareness about the dangers of COVID-19 and to encourage Black and other racial minority populations get vaccinated. The System’s “Don’t Wait, Vaccinate!” campaign will hit the road again for this weekend’s 47th Bayou Classic in Shreveport, which was rescheduled from its traditional Thanksgiving weekend spot in New Orleans in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions at that time.
This edition of Bayou Classic will be more than just a rivalry on the field for the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State University Tigers. Both universities have partnered with the Louisiana Department of Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to offer vaccine education. Blue Cross Blue Shield has also agreed to donate $10,000 to each university to expand public outreach efforts of both universities to increase vaccinations in communities where populations are disproportionally affected by COVID-19.
“We are excited to not only offer the opportunity for both Southern and Grambling State University fans to get vital, factual information about the vaccine," said Ray Belton, president of the Southern University System. "We are equally excited that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana has invested in our outreach work to educate and vaccinate as many Louisiana citizens as possible.”
The joint Bayou Classic campaign will include prominently displayed information in event venues and public service announcements featuring university officials and students. An information tent will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Louisiana State Fairgrounds near the Ag Center by Independence Stadium on Saturday.
Southern’s continuing “Don’t Wait. Vaccinate!” campaign is a response to disappointing data that continues to reveal that ethnic minorities are not getting vaccinated at a rate large enough to overcome the global pandemic of COVID-19.
For more information about the Southern University System vaccination campaign and events, visit www.sus.edu/vaccinate or email vaccinate@sus.edu.