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Oklahoma Launches Statewide Texting Campaign To Boost Vaccine Response

Some Oklahomans will soon get text messages about the coronavirus vaccine.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced a new vaccine outreach initiative on Wednesday. The department will use real people to contact Oklahomans in areas with low vaccine uptake.

"We are hopeful to reach Oklahomans with additional information about the vaccine to help them make an informed decision about whether to receive it," said Deputy Commissioner Keith Reed. "The text messages are not a scam and will never request personal information or money from the recipients. These are intended to provide information regarding available appointments near them and encourage people to learn more about getting the vaccine."

Recipients can reply with follow-up questions or requests for more information, with an option to reply in Spanish.

The messages are scheduled to be sent in three rounds beginning June 4, June 9 and June 15. Text messages may arrive within two to three days of those dates.

More than 1.3 million Oklahomans have been fully vaccinated.

Vaccines are available through many doctors and pharmacies, or you can use the state’s appointment portal at vaccinate.ok.gov or the federal vaccine locator at vaccinefinder.org.

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Catherine Sweeney was StateImpact Oklahoma's health reporter from 2020 to 2023.
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