On Monday, Feb. 22, the "Vaccinate the Natural State" coalition was launched with the intention to educate Arkansans about the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage employers to take a pledge promoting the vaccine to employees.

• The initiative will be led by Blue Cross President & CEO Curtis Barnett and will include partnerships with the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, the Northwest Arkansas Council, UAMS and Walmart.
• The campaign will kick off in March and will focus on two main areas: business-to-business engagement and community engagement. “Vaccines are marvels of medical science, but they cannot work unless enough of us do our part and accept them when it’s our turn,” Barnett said. Talk Business & Politics
• Because the pandemic has already highlighted the state’s and nation’s health disparities, individuals will be reached with targeted information about the vaccine, encouragement to be vaccinated, and access to vaccinations, Barnett said.
• Barnett ended the conference by saying it's understandable to be confused and overwhelmed by vaccine information, but it would be unfortunate to let fear and misinformation allow the pandemic to rage on and claim even more lives. Talk Business & Politics