El Capitan High School Student Wins Vax Facts Video Contest

The Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance), in partnership with the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE), is proud to announce Areesha Tariq, a student at El Capitan High School, as the winner of the inaugural Vax Facts Challenge—a video contest designed to engage Merced County high school students in public health education.

The announcement comes during Adolescent Immunization Action Week (April 7–11), a national initiative that encourages teens and young adults to trust reliable sources, ask questions and take action to feel confident about vaccinations. Areesha’s winning video, “Vaccines for a Healthy Future," does just that—delivering a clear, creative and compelling message about the role vaccines play in protecting both individual and community health.

As the contest winner, Areesha will receive a $500 gift card and a certificate of appreciation. In addition, El Capitan High School will receive $1,500 to support school programs. Areesha's video will be featured on MCOE’s website and the Alliance’s communication channels to help spread awareness about the importance of timely immunizations.

“We were impressed by the quality and creativity of Areesha’s submission,” said Dr. Omar Guzman, Chief Health Equity Officer at the Alliance. “This student has shown a remarkable commitment to public health education, and we are proud to recognize their achievement during Adolescent Immunization Action Week.”

“The Merced County Office of Education is proud of the creative work put into the Vax Facts Challenge,” said Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen. “We’re excited to see the positive impact the winning video will have in raising awareness of these important health messages for students.”

View the winning video, here,

To learn more about Adolescent Immunization Action Week and how to support teen vaccination, visit Unity® Consortium.

About Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance)
The Alliance is a regional Medi-Cal managed care health plan established in 1996, dedicated to improving access to health care for over 450,000 members in Merced, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Mariposa and San Benito counties. Operating under the state’s County Organized Health System (COHS) model, the Alliance connects members with providers to deliver timely services and care, emphasizing prevention, early detection and effective treatment. With a vision of “healthy people, healthy communities,” the Alliance remains committed to enhancing access to quality health care for its members. For more information, visit https://thealliance.health/.