This study evaluates a novel public health communication campaign, "Survival Pending Revolution," created by young poets of color to promote COVID-19 vaccination among their peers. The campaign uses spoken-word poetry and film to address vaccine hesitancy within the context of systemic racism and health inequities. A two-phase evaluation, involving content analysis of the campaign materials and a focus group with young adults, compares "Survival Pending Revolution" to the Kaiser Family Foundation's "The Conversation" campaign. The findings suggest that the arts-based, critical communication approach of "Survival Pending Revolution" resonated more strongly with the target audience, particularly in validating complex decision-making processes and acknowledging the impact of structural racism on health. While neither campaign consistently generated high credibility or behavioral activation, the study highlights the potential of critical communication strategies in promoting vaccine uptake among marginalized communities.

Dean Schillinger, Maury Nation, Julia Von Sommoggy, Tianfeng He