COVID Vaccine Hotline
1-800-985-6030
Recursos en Español
OBTENGA LA VACUNA COVID-19
Línea Telefónica para Vacunas
1-800-985-6030
Hear from your Arkansas neighbors about why it’s important to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Watch their stories and see why they chose to get the vaccine. Learn from local physicians about why getting the vaccine is important. And, for more information about the vaccine and how to get one, visit the resources listed on the left side of this page.
Video Stories
Hear from your Arkansas neighbors, trusted local physicians and others who have been directly impacted by COVID-19:
The opportunity to keep the Fordyce football team’s season on track was a powerful motivator for the school and team to learn about and accept the vaccine. Also, hear how the school district has taken a unique approach to finding a way out of the pandemic, offering a monetary incentive for students who become fully vaccinated.
Featuring:- Sheryl Palmer and Susan Spears, Dallas County Museum
- Carson Williams, Football player, Fordyce High School
- Dr. Judy Hubbell, Superintendent, Fordyce School District
- Payton Blackmon, Student, Fordyce High School
- Ruth Walker, Payton’s mom
- Daniel Bryant, Pharmacist, Watson Pharmacy
Sheila Faye Reeder | Marianna, Arkansas
Sheila Faye Reeder, beloved community member and educator in Marianna, Arkansas, lost her life to COVID-19 only weeks after testing positive for the virus. Family, friends, and fellow community members reflect on the impact Ms. Reeder had on the lives she touched.
Featuring:- Tony Washington, Son
- Destinee Evans, Member of Sheila Reeder’s Praise Dance Team
- Michelle Branch, Principal, Anna Strong Learning Academy
- Dianna Evans, Friend/Mother of Praise Dance Team Member
- Gina Akins, Sister
- Ella Brewer, Mother
- Ronald Broussard, Pastor, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Abigail Peerce | Green Forest Community Clinic
Nurse practitioner Abigail Peerce, who is the sole medical provider at a rural community clinic in Green Forest, Arkansas, shares the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her family and her patients.
Featuring:- Abigail Peerce, Nurse Practitioner
- Caitlin Hefley, Nurse
- Ashley, School teacher, patient
- Maddie, Abigail’s daughter
- Craig, Abigail’s husband
- Kay, Patient
Become a community partner
A variety of resources are available for you to help encourage your communities to get vaccinated. Assets include: video stories from Arkansans; public service announcements (PSAs); messaging for social media, emails, websites and advertisements; fliers and more.
Thank you to the following partners
Together with our partners we are providing accurate vaccine safety information and sharing the stories of Arkansans directly impacted by COVID-19 to inform all Arkansans with the details they need to get vaccinated.
Community Health Centers of ArkansasSt. Bernards Healthcare Center, Jonesboro
Arkansas Rural Health Partnership
Rural Health Association of Arkansas
Arkansas State Library System
Fordyce School District, Fordyce
Arkansas State Veterans Home, Fayetteville
Arkansas Medical Society
Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
PSAs
Tanner Cole, a Critical Care RN, cares for adult ICU patients at St. Bernards Medical Center. The past two years, Cole has spent much of that time assisting ICU patients with COVID-19.
Tanner Cole, RN
St. Bernards Medical Center
Jonesboro, Arkansas
“It’s important to get your children vaccinated.”/ “Eaurōk bwe ajiri ro nejum rōn bōke wā eo.”
In the Marshallese community, respect for elders is a core value. Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese Project Manager Stephanie Takamaru shares why that’s made vaccinating children against COVID-19 a priority and how it increases everyone’s safety.
Ilo manit ko an RiMajel elap kautej rūtto ro. Projector manager eo an Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, Stephanie Takamaru ej kōmelele wun ko raurok ñan kakijooror doon bwe ajiri ro ren wā ñan bōktok kōjparok im ājmour ñan aolep.
Stephanie Takamaru
Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese
Sarah Wilson nearly lost her 15-year-old son, a high school football player, to COVID-19. Sarah and her husband were vaccinated but took a cautious approach to their son's vaccination. He contracted COVID within days of his first shot.
Sarah Wilson
Conway, Arkansas
“I encourage you to talk to your child’s doctor about getting their COVID-19 vaccines.”
Kristen Luce, NP
Nurse Practitioner, The Children’s Clinic
Jonesboro, Arkansas
“Support the vaccine.”
Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese Administrative Manager Jenitha deBrum supports the COVID-19 vaccine because it helps protect kids and people she loves. Listen as she shares why she encourages other parents to consider doing the same.
Jenitha deBrum
Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese
Jeanine Tiggs and her husband Antonio both contracted COVID-19. Antonio has several underlying medical issues, and they are sure that he would have died if he wasn't vaccinated.
Jeanine and Antonio Tiggs
Marion, Arkansas
Jeanine Tiggs and her husband Antonio both contracted COVID-19. Antonio has several underlying medical issues, and they are sure that he would have died if he wasn't vaccinated.
Jeanine and Antonio Tiggs
Marion, Arkansas
Hub Gaston and John Hardin worked together for the city of Hot Springs. When John contracted COVID-19 and died, it left an incredible void in the lives of his family, friends, and co-workers. Hub misses his best friend, who died before a vaccine was available. Now that there is a vaccine, he encourages everyone to get it for themselves and their loved ones.
Hub Gaston
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Ella shares the last conversation with her daughter, Faye Reeder, before losing her to COVID-19. She describes the loss of her daughter as devastating to her family.
Ella Brewster
Marianna, Arkansas
“So many people think that because I’ve had COVID-19 that I don’t need to get the vaccine. Experts all agree that boosting your own immunity with the vaccination really confers the greatest level of protection.”
Susan Ward-Jones, MD
East Arkansas Family Health Center
West Memphis, Arkansas
East Arkansas Family Health Center is part of the network of Community Health Centers of Arkansas.
“I don’t think it's wrong to hesitate, I think it’s good as parents to ask questions.”
Dr. Susan Sullivan, in Pediatrics at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas, states the importance of asking questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and how it's important to keep your kids and family safe and healthy.
Dr. Susan Sullivan
Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas
“This virus is real.”
Dr. Susan Averitt in pediatrics at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Arkansas explains how most patients who are dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated. The vaccine prevents death.
Dr. Susan Averitt
Northwest Medical Center - Springdale, Arkansas
“This virus is real.”
Dr. Susan Averitt in pediatrics at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Arkansas explains how most patients who are dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated. The vaccine prevents death.
Dr. Susan Averitt
Northwest Medical Center - Springdale, Arkansas
“These vaccines are safe, effective, prevent hospitalization and death, and everyone needs to get one.”
Shane Speights, DO
NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, Arkansas
In partnership with the Arkansas Medical Society
"If you don’t want to do it for yourself, please consider doing it for all of those that love you.”
Kasey Holder, MD
Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Bernards Medical Center
Jonesboro, Arkansas
As a Pulmonologist, Dr. Joshua Morrison sees patients with lung and breathing issues in both clinic and hospital settings. Dr. Morrison's work often takes him to the ICU at St. Bernards Medical Center, and he cares directly for COVID-19 patient there.
Dr. Joshua Morrison
St. Bernards Medical Center
Jonesboro, Arkansas
“Our fight is against COVID. It’s not against the vaccine.”
Jane Sneed, MD, FAAP
Pediatrician, The Children’s Clinic
Jonesboro, Arkansas
In partnership with Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
“I encourage all my patients to get the vaccine, number one for their own health, to keep them from becoming infected with COVID, from being hospitalized and most importantly to stay alive.”
Christine Hartford, MD
NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, Arkansas
In partnership with the Arkansas Medical Society
“To me, it’s about being a good neighbor, it’s one of the only ways that we have to bring the pandemic to an end.”
Amanda Deel, DO
NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, Arkansas
In partnership with the Arkansas Medical Society
"The vaccine works."
Adrienne Hatchett, MD
East Arkansas Family Health Center
West Memphis, Arkansas
East Arkansas Family Health Center is part of the network of Community Health Centers of Arkansas.
David Rackley believes that it's a personal decision, not a political decision, to get vaccinated. The vaccine became a no-brainer for David Rackley when it became apparent that COVID-19 was a severe and devastating disease.
David and Chandler Rackley
Little Rock, Arkansas
David Rackley believes that it's a personal decision, not a political decision, to get vaccinated. The vaccine became a no-brainer for David Rackley when it became apparent that COVID-19 was a severe and devastating disease.
David and Chandler Rackley
Little Rock, Arkansas
Pharmacist Daniel Bryant believes vaccines are the miracle of modern medicine. He works to educate the Fordyce community about the COVID-19 vaccine and partnered with the Fordyce School District to immunize (or inoculate) students requesting the vaccine.
Daniel Bryant
Pharmacist at Watson Pharmacy
Fordyce, Arkansas
Carson Williams is a senior at Fordyce High School, where he plays football for the Redbugs. After thoughtful consideration, he decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help keep his classmates and community safe.
Carson Williams
Fordyce High School Football Player
Fordyce, Arkansas
Ashley Peerce teaches art in Lead Hill, Arkansas. As a public-school teacher, she feels it's her duty to be vaccinated; however, she didn't make the decision easily.
Ashley Peerce
Lead Hill, Arkansas
Alice Guthrie was concerned with keeping her parents safe from COVID-19 (she is the caregiver for parents and extended family). She never dreamed she would lose her husband to COVID-19.
Alice Guthrie
Conway, Arkansas
Funding for this project is provided by
- Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization with over a half billion dollars in assets, fosters smart giving to improve communities. The Community Foundation offers tools to help Arkansans protect, grow and direct their charitable dollars as they learn more about community needs. By making grants and sharing knowledge, the Foundation supports existing charitable programs that work for Arkansas and partners to create initiatives that address unmet needs. Since 1976, the Community Foundation has provided more than $314 million in grants and partnered with thousands of Arkansans to help them improve our neighborhoods, our towns and our entire state. Contributions to Arkansas Community Foundation, its funds and any of its 29 affiliates are fully tax deductible.
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook and LinkedIn and subscribe for other updates.
