Our Impact

This page looks at some of our key efforts and our impact in halting the pandemic. Ongoing support is key to ending the pandemic. And that is all we do: We roll up our sleeves and work to get people to take key steps.   More, we are expanding our footprint to reach many more.

We believe vaccinations is key to ending the pandemic. More, research shows that they are both safe and effective.

In January, 2020, we began promoting masks as a safeguard against the virus. At the same time, we also began handing out masks. And today, they are still key. Thus, we continue our support.

As an extension of Covid literacy, we support other key steps, too. That is, with community efforts, web tools and more. 

A program for the uninsured has been established to pay service providers directly for key health services. Also, it covers many costs associated with the virus. But many are unaware that it exists. And as a result they may not be seeking the medical services that they need. Thus, there is a need to inform everyone.

Testing is also key to halting the virus. And this includes those that are already vaccinated or are between doses. In the future, we hope to develop additional tools to promote this.

Going forward, we will put a spotlight on the need for long-term research. And one of our key goals is to prevent the next pandemic.   More, understating “long Covid” and other ailments is necessary, too.

It takes a broad effort to halt the virus. And here are some of our programming efforts. Others are in development, too:

Safety Information and Tools

• Build and support online tools
• Create and support health messages
• Collect preventative data for health messages
• Support online message 
• Support other organizations/efforts
• (In Development) Launch a radio PSA campaign

Community Support

• Providing masks as a preventative measure
• Creating and distributing literature
• Meeting with socially-isolated groups
• Identifying key target areas and tailoring messages
• Developing campaigns for safety compliance 

Wider Support Network

• Support COVID-19 uninsured benefits education
• Support vaccine literacy and efforts
• Separately, we regularly lobby state and federal agencies to adopt key messages and approaches

Future Program

Going forward, our work will continue, especially focusing on supporting  longterm research. Consequently, it will continue for many years. And it is key to preventing the next pandemic. 

Early on, we were concerned by initial data. Thus, on November 27, 2019, our Board took action. And they voted to intervene immediately.

Historically, we formed in 2017. But we did not incorporate until we saw this threat. As a result, we incorporated in December, 2019. And the Internal Revenue Service quickly granted our non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) on January 23, 2020. More, this was just three days after the first case was detected in the United States.

In January 2020, we were one of the first non-medical organizations to hand out masks. Consequently, they are a key preventative measure against the virus.  And we continue promoting them today. 

In late 2019, we designed handout paper leaflets on the virus. Specifically, it focused on the history of the SARS virus discovered nearly 20 years ago.

Accurate data and messages are key. And this is especially true when they come from government agencies. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have lobbied both federal and state agencies. And this has been both to adopt key messages and to improve data reporting.

Then in March, 2020 we met with members of isolated communities. Some do not have access to the internet or mass media. And we informed them about the virus and preventative steps.

In early 2020, key medical supplies were running on short supply. To support future supply-chain issues, we established warehousing, logistics and shipping near several large cities. And it can be accessed in the future, if a similar supply-chain issue occurs.

First, in January, 2020 we began conducting broad, informal surveys on masks. And this was done in different locations.

Next, in February 2020, we began taking surveys on mask compliance. And the data are significant. In fact, it is key to focusing campaigns and resources. More, it accurately predicted future vaccine trends.

Meanwhile, we continue making key message discoveries today. Our research has identified message gaps. And we work to close these gaps.

Today, we only focus on COVID-19. And we achieve this with multiple programs including community out-reach, campaigns and other efforts, too. More, in the long-term, we will also support research.

HealthMessages.org

“Health” relates to public health, safety and security. And can include issues like cybersecurity. “Messages” is a mandate to provide a wide spectrum of information to promote health literacy. But it can include action such as providing critical safety supplies. “Org” means that we are a nonprofit 501(c(3). More, we are here to support public health and promote health literacy efforts.

Illustration by Maria Shukshina