The Flyers Launch “Take Your Shot” Campaign Encouraging Fans to Get Vaccinated
The Flyers Launch “Take Your Shot” Campaign Encouraging Fans to Get Vaccinated
The Philadelphia Flyers recently launched the “Take Your Shot” campaign, the first wide-ranging COVID-19 vaccination campaign by an NHL team. The Flyers debuted an online vaccination information hub, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com/
“The Flyers have a powerful platform to positively impact the community, and we want to encourage our friends and neighbors to get vaccinated, stay safe, and finally end this pandemic. Both the Mayor and the Governor encouraged us to get involved in the fight against COVID-19, and we’re answering that call,” said Philadelphia Flyers & Wells Fargo Center President of Business Operations, Valerie Camillo. “We want to do our part to encourage people throughout our region – especially those in underserved communities – to get vaccinated and finally get back to doing the things we love.”
The Flyers are utilizing a full slate of marketing and communications platforms to encourage fans to take their shot. The team plans to use its massive social media following – with 3.4 million followers across various platforms – to reach fans, while also promoting vaccine resources in the arena during Flyers games and during TV and radio broadcasts. This week, the Flyers committed significant financial support for vaccination sites, including one hosted by the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium on Thursday at the Liacouras Center and another hosted by Penn Medicine this weekend.
In coordination with the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, the Flyers are also funding a targeted advertising campaign designed specifically to reach Black communities throughout the region who are diagnosed at a disproportionately higher rate than other groups and who are dying from coronavirus at a higher rate than other groups. Earlier this season, Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, and her family attended a Flyers home game through the organization’s “Frontline Families” program, which recognizes a different frontline worker and their family at each Flyers home game.
“It’s on all of us to do our part to end this pandemic, so we’re encouraging all of our fans to take your shot,” said Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault.
“The enormous challenge of COVID-19 underscores how crucial it is to come together for the health of our communities, and throughout this crisis, we’ve leaned on our partnerships with great organizations across the region we serve to maximize impact,” said Kevin B. Mahoney, chief executive officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. “Penn Medicine has been fortunate to work with a multitude of amazing partners, from key local leaders and community groups to marquee Philadelphia organizations like the Flyers. When everyone comes together, it boosts the success of our daily mission to protect as many members of our communities as we can.”
“The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium is working every day to ensure that African Americans throughout our region, who disproportionately contract and die from coronavirus at a higher rate than other groups, get their care they need and access to vaccines. We are proud to partner with the Philadelphia Flyers and their ‘Take Your Shot’ campaign. We are grateful for their support.” said Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium.
The “Take Your Shot” campaign builds on Comcast NBCUniversal’s “Plan Your Vaccine” resource center, which helps users navigate the vaccine rollout process, informs users of when they are eligible to receive their vaccine, and helps users find their closest vaccination location.
The Flyers will join the Black Doctor’s COVID-19 Consortium on Thursday, April 22 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Temple University’s Liacouras Center to encourage those receiving vaccines, cheer on frontline workers, and provide support and entertainment throughout the day. Gritty and members of the Flyers organization will be there to hand out custom “Take Your Shot” stickers and t-shirts, provide water and hand sanitizer to fans waiting in line, and provide entertainment with appearances from the Flyers Ice Team, Flyers alumni, and more. Flyers Charities will also present the Consortium with a check for $10,000 to help cover vaccination site costs.
This weekend, Gritty and the Flyers organization will head to a vaccine site hosted by Penn Medicine in the Philadelphia suburbs. More information on that event will be released next week.
