• by Larissa Faw , February 4, 2021

California Department of Public Health has named San Francisco-based Duncan Channon as agency partner to develop a multicultural creative approach to build trust in COVID-19 vaccines and to educate and prepare Californians to get the vaccine when it’s their turn.

The government agency awarded Duncan Channon a one-year, $40 million contract following a competitive review.

Under the remit, Duncan Channon and an integrated team of agency partners -— including Barú, Apartnership and Rally — will design messaging to reach Black, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander and Indigenous communities.

The team’s first comprehensive vaccine campaign will launch in early March and include creative in at least 13 languages.

The ongoing public education initiative will feature paid media efforts, social media and influencers, as well as PR and community engagement.

The agency has spent the past five years working with the CA Tobacco Control Program to fight the teen vaping epidemic as well as reduce smoking across the state.

The shop also recently landed a five year, $400 million contract with Covered California, the first and largest state-run health insurance exchange created under the Affordable Care Act.