MEET NEW DAY: Trevor Zimmer
As a design strategist specializing in global health, I’ve always been driven by the need to connect big ideas with real people. My first film,Rollout, reflects this passion. Created while managing the COVAX program for COVID-19 vaccine readiness and delivery, Rollout offers an intimate look at a Kenyan community grappling with government pressure and widespread vaccine hesitancy. Through this story, we delve into the critical challenges of building trust in public health efforts.
The film emerged from my firsthand experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. I realized that a key part of the story was missing: how people in communities actually perceive vaccines and the institutions behind them. With my fellow executive producer Kristen Schlott, director Danny Abel, and producer Kevin Madegwa, we sought to shift the narrative from institutions to individuals. Rollout centers the voices of everyday people, reminding us that good intentions in global health are not enough without trust and collaboration.
At just 16 minutes, Rollout is a short yet impactful exploration of how trust—or the lack of it—can shape the success of essential global health initiatives. It reveals the mounting challenges of pandemic response, highlighting how communities navigate the tension between fear of the unknown and the pressing need to protect themselves. For me, making this film was about sparking a vital conversation: how do we center local needs and rebuild trust as the foundation of global health work?
I’m proud of what Rollout has achieved in starting these discussions, and I hope it continues to inspire reflection and action. Essential global health efforts, like pandemic response, demand not just coordination but also empathy. Only by truly understanding and addressing local concerns can we ensure that global health solutions work for everyone.
I invite you to watch the trailer for Rollout and learn more about the film.