HAIR Wellness Warriors have come together from across the nation to protect communities from ravages of the flu and COVID-19 as well as cancer screenings, lupus, clinical research and diabetes by providing education and outreach through barbershops and salons.
In order to save lives during this unprecedented time, communities need to get vaccinated quickly – and addressing the underlying reasons why people are unsure about getting vaccinated will require an approach that focuses at the hyperlocal level to understand people’s beliefs and concerns, encourage conversation, and spark a vaccination movement at the community level.
The Health Advocates In-Reach and Research (a.k.a. HAIR) Wellness Warriors has partnered with the National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care and Equity (NMQF-SHC) Health Champions Program to expand the Wellness Warriors program, which is deeply rooted and successful in the Baltimore, Md., region, to 10 additional geographical locations across the country to increase both awareness and COVID-19 and influenza vaccination rates in African American and Hispanic communities.
Meet some Wellness Warriors
who are making a difference!
Find A Wellness Warrior
Rapid Testing and Home COVID-19 Test Kits
HAIR Wellness Warriors believe in the importance of regular COVID testing and the use of KN95 tests. To help make these accessible we now have at-home COVID tests and KN95 masks at some of our Wellness Warrior locations and have provided some resources to ensure proper use of at-home tests.
To learn more about rapid testing and KN95 masks check out our “Tests & Masks” page.
Influenza and COVID-19 Rapid Response Training for Barbers and Stylists
COVID-19 Rapid Response training space
Welcome to the COVID-19 Rapid Response training space. Watch the brief video below to get an introduction to the initiative.
Introduction to Our Training Spaces
Welcome to Our Training Space
Please begin your journey by viewing this introduction hosted by Dr. Reed Tuckson, titled "Making It Plain: The Colors of COVID-19--Barbershop and Salons from Vaccine Hesitancy to Confidence."
Module 2: COVID-19 Vaccines
What We Need to Know
The purpose of this module is to provide information about the COVID-19 disease including the risk of long haul syndrome and the role of vaccines to mitigate the most severe disease outcomes. Additionally, the role of Black people in the clinical trials will be discussed. This module will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Michele Andrasik
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
1100 Fairview Avenue N, E3-300
Seattle, WA 98109
Email: mandrasik@fredhutch.org
COVID-19 & Vaccines: What We Need to Know
Reflection Questions
What are your three key takeaways from viewing the module content on COVID-19 & Vaccines?
What kinds of questions about COVID-19 vaccination have you heard in your shop?
Module 3: Epidemiology and the Colors of Covid-19
Lessons From the Front Lines of Vaccine Access and Hesitancy
The purpose of this module is to introduce current public health interventions regarding COVID-19 vaccine access and hesitancy and to describe how these interventions could influence the impact of the pandemic on communities of color.
George Askew, MD, FAAP
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services, and Education
for Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Colors of COVID-19
Reflection Questions
What are your three key takeaways from viewing the module content on Public Health Interventions?
What kinds of questions about vaccine access or hesitancy have you heard in your shop?
Module 4: Straight Talk with Clients & Media
Communicating Information about Covid-19
The purpose of this module is to prepare you to productively communicate information about COVID-19, especially to clients and people who may have very different attitudes towards the COVID-19 pandemic. How you talk about vaccines with others is important to what they decide. This will also help you to be prepared to answer common questions and concerns. This module will take approximately 38 minutes to complete.
Devlon N. Jackson, PHDAssistant Research Professor, Behavioral and Community Health
University of Maryland School of Public Health
Sandra C. Quinn, PHD
Professor and Chair, Dept. Family Science and
Senior Associate Director, Maryland Center for Health Equity
University of Maryland School of Public Health
Talking with Clients about COVID-19
Reflection Questions
What are your three key takeaways from viewing the module content on Communicating Information About COVID-19?
How might you do this in your own shop?
Module 5: Training for Collaboration with Local Clinical Partners
Connecting with Local Public Health
The purpose of this module is to help barbers and stylists engage local health departments and hospitals as clinical partners who can operate a vaccination clinic in or near their places of business. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will provide local guidance and facilitate connections. This module will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Oscar Alleyne, DrPH MPH
Chief of Programs and Services, NACCHO
National Association of County and City Health Officials
oalleyne@naccho.org
Working with Local Health Departments
Reflection Questions
What are your three key takeaways from viewing the module content on Engaging with Clinical Partners?
How might you do this in your own shop?
Resources
Read More about Health Equity
The Maryland Center for Health Equity has an online archive full of articles about Health Equity that you can read free of charge.
If you are interested in Health Equity, Health Disparities, and what we can do to make our communities healthier, check out articles on the Archive
Click here to access the Minority Health and Health Equity Archive
Resources on Vaccine Safety
Ensuring COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in the US
Finding Credible Vaccine Information
Are COVID-19 Vaccines safe if I have Kidney Disease?
COVID-19 and Kidney Disease
Are COVID-19 Vaccines recommended if I have Diabetes?
COVID-19 and Diabetes
Resources for the Black and Hispanic Communities
Greater than COVID
Informational Materials in English and Spanish
Greater than COVID YouTube Channel
Kids & COVID Vaccines Playlist
Downloadable Materials
News
Maryland Barbers & Stylist United For Health in the News
Maryland Barbers & Stylist United For Health in the News
Maryland Today: UMD Report: Complex Challenges Slowed Prince George’s COVID Vaccine Response
PR Newswire: National Minority Quality Forum Hosts Live Conversation Featuring Barber and Stylist COVID-19 Vaccine Activists
Consumer Reports: Flu Deaths Are More Common in Children of Color, Study Finds
MSNBC: Dr. Thomas turns barbershops & salons into “trusted vaccine information centers”
Public Health on Call: Episode 351: A Vaccine with that Haircut? Barber Shops and the Fight Against COVID-19
Washington Post: Offering beer, babysitting and barbershop outreach, the White House launches new initiatives to boost vaccinations
National News
NPR: Barbers are enlisted to tout the benefits of being vaccinated against COVID
The Washington Post: Trump and his allies really, really, really want to blame Black Americans and Democrats for vaccine hesitancy
New England Journal of Medicine: Striving for Diversity in Research Studies
Medical Marketing and Media: Black and Hispanic communities are lagging in getting vaccinated. How these organizations are trying to change that.
New York Post: Facing the facts about the unvaxxed — and why it’s folly to approach them in anger
The Undefeated: Tuskegee descendants, hip-hop anthems and hustlers are all being deployed to convince Black people to get vaccinated
Local News
NBC Southern California: Combating Vaccine Hesitancy Among Black Americans After Mistrust Caused by Unethical Study
AL.com: White House COVID team praises Mobile’s vaccine efforts during a ‘breaking point’ in pandemic
WSPA: HUD Secretary visits SC to talk about vaccinations and access to affordable housing
Gothamist: Shave And A Haircut, Two Shots: NY Salons Jump Into Vaccine Outreach
WLOX: Mississippi to offer $1,000 to African American salons as part of ‘Shots at the Shop’ program
Houston Chronicle: Slow, but steady: Vaccine drives continue in Black, Latino neighborhoods
Frequently Asked Questions
What areas do you focus on?
We focus on Barbers and Stylists across the country. Right now, you can find us in Alabama, California, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin.
Why does the program use Barbers and Stylists?
We believe that Barbers and Stylists hold a unique position in their community to help promote health. We aim to create Trusted Information Centers in the shops so those in the community can feel confident in the educational materials they receive in the Shop.
How do I become a Wellness Warrior?
If you would like to be a Wellness Warrior or would like to get more information please email Chris Scurlock, cscurlock@hcdi.com.
Our Partners
Maryland Center for Health Equity
Dr. Stephan Thomas
Director, Maryland Center for Health Equity
Professor, UMD School of Public Health
Meg Jordan
Faculty Research Assistant at the Maryland Center for Health Equity
CommuniVax Study Coordinator
University of Maryland School of Public Health
Jaleh Montazer, MPH
Project Coordinator
Surayyah Khan
Community Partner Specialist
Sarah Hurlbert, MPH
Program Evaluator
Mike Brown
Certified Community Health Worker
Katrina Randolph
Certified Community Health Worker
Fred Spry
Certified Community Health Worker
Institute for Creative Community Initiatives
Mrs. Jean Drummond
Executive Director, ICCI
Chris Scurlock
Community Outreach Lead
Radio One
Reginal Lewis
Sr. Integrated Marketing Specialist
Michelle Royal Vessels
Senior Integrated Solutions Executive
Clinical Partners
Luminis Health
Learn more about Luminis Health
University of Maryland Capital Region Health
Learn more about UM Capital Region
MedStar Health
Learn more about MedStar
Adventist HealthCare
Learn more about Adventist