FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT:
Marianna Moles/Britt Ehrhardt
Public Health Department
[email protected]
6th through 12th graders educate their peers about COVID-19 vaccination through creative video shorts
Santa Clara County, CA -- The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department has launched an innovative contest to empower youth to educate their peers about COVID-19 vaccination. The 2021 VaxUp Video Contest calls for 6th- to 12th-graders to create short videos with powerful messages. Youth participating in the contest are available to the news media for interviews upon request.
Students in two categories—one for middle school and one for high school—will compete for cash prizes for their team and their school. Prizes range from $500 to $1,500. Deadline for entries is November 15. Details and official contest rules are at sccVaxUpVideo.org.
“Our kids and teens have shown us many times over how this pandemic has affected them on a personal level. This contest gives them a creative outlet to show the community what vaccinations mean to them,” said Dr. Monika Roy, Assistant Health Officer for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department. “We cannot wait to see the entries and showcase the winners.”
Youth aged 16 and 17 years old became eligible in April for COVID-19 shots, while 12- to 15-year-olds gained eligibility in May. However, in Santa Clara County, youth lag behind other age groups in vaccination rates. Peer-to-peer messaging is a strong influencer among youth, and social media videos are a popular medium to showcase creativity for issues youth are passionate about.
All students currently attending 6th to 12th grade in Santa Clara County are eligible to enter the contest, as long as they have an adult sponsor affiliated with a school, such as a teacher or coach. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony livestreamed on the Public Health Department’s social media channels.
Here’s how it works:
- Teams of up to five students create videos 30 to 60 seconds long and post on Instagram and Tik Tok with hashtag #sccVaxUpVideo. Many video styles are welcome, including acted scenes, performance art, and music videos.
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be selected by a panel of volunteer judges for two categories: 6th to 8th graders and 9th to 12th graders.
- Cash prizes will be awarded for both categories: $1,500, $1,000 and $500, plus $500 for the schools with a 1st place winner. Prizes are funded by a grant through the VMC Foundation.
For contest rules and how to enter, visit sccVaxUpVideo.org.