Greetings.   This is sent on behalf of SI Under Secretary Ellen Stofan.       Mignon



Message from the Under Secretary for Science and Research: Announcing a new Smithsonian National Initiative, "Vaccines and US"

Dear Colleagues:

The Secretary and I are pleased to announce the launch of a new nationwide initiative, "Vaccines & US: Cultural Organizations for Community Health."
This Smithsonian-led initiative will bring together museums, libraries and cultural institutions across the country to support the national effort
to provide Americans with accessible, trustworthy information about vaccines.

"Vaccines & US" curates and shares an online hub of free resources<http://www.vaccinesandus.org/> about COVID-19: the safety, efficacy and value of COVID-19 vaccines;
practical advice for having conversations about vaccination; America's communities' and cultures' response to the pandemic;
and the history of pandemics and vaccination in the U.S.

The initiative invites local museums, libraries, cultural organizations and civic centers to use these free resources to support vaccine education
and outreach in their communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and with low confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.
From videos and infographics to activities and educational curricula, the scientific content is vetted by an advisory group of medical professionals
from collaborating organizations. As part of these online offerings, the Smithsonian is sponsoring artists and designers to create posters,
which cultural organizations and individuals alike can download and share with their communities.

Adding to resources drawn from Smithsonian museums and research centers, ten collaborating organizations contributed content to the initiative,
including the COVID-19 Prevention Network at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Exploratorium, The Health Museum (Houston),
the Museum of Chinese in America, the Museum of Science (Boston), the New York Hall of Science, the Pacific Science Center,
the Peale Museum for Baltimore History and Architecture, the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Saint Louis Science Center.

In addition to the Smithsonian Affiliations network of more than 200 museums nationwide, several professional organizations
also have signed onto the initiative, including the American Alliance of Museums, American Association for State and Local History,
Association of African American Museums, Association of Science and Technology Centers, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience,
Council of American Jewish Museums and National Indian Health Board.

The Smithsonian, with 175 years of using scientific and cultural knowledge to serve the American people, is working to document this national health crisis
for future generations. By uniting museums and libraries nationwide, we hope to give people the resources they need to make informed decisions
about vaccinations, reaching them through the local institutions they know and trust.


Sincerely,

Ellen Stofan
Under Secretary for Science and Research
Smithsonian Institution