Publication Date
1-1-2024
Journal
Public Health Reports
DOI
10.1177/00333549231213848
PMID
38140821
PMCID
PMC11339676
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
12-23-2023
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-Print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Humans, Texas, COVID-19 Vaccines, COVID-19, Female, Male, Ethnic and Racial Minorities, Adult, Vaccination Hesitancy, Middle Aged, SARS-CoV-2, Program Evaluation, Community-Institutional Relations, Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, COVID-19, vaccination, disparities, geomedicine, stakeholder-engaged research, community engagement
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Lack of access to timely, accurate, and linguistically appropriate COVID-19 information has complicated the dissemination of evidence-based information and contributed to vaccine hesitancy among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. We developed community events that provided outreach, education, and access to COVID-19 vaccination to overcome vaccine hesitancy in these communities.
METHODS: Using spatial analysis techniques, we identified 3 communities with low vaccine uptake in Houston, Texas, in fall 2021; engaged 20 stakeholders from these communities via 4 focus groups to understand barriers to vaccination; and developed and implemented 3 COVID-19 vaccine education and outreach events tailored to the needs of these communities in January-March 2022. We used program evaluation surveys to assess attendee characteristics and satisfaction with the events. Vaccinated attendees also completed surveys on what motivated them to get vaccinated.
RESULTS: Two communities were predominantly Hispanic, and the third had an equal number of Black and Hispanic residents. Based on community stakeholder input, the study team organized 2 health fairs and 1 community festival featuring dialogue-based COVID-19 vaccine engagement in January and March 2022. Across the 3 events, a total of 865 attendees received COVID-19 education and 205 (24.0%) attendees received a COVID-19 vaccine or booster. Of 90 attendees who completed program evaluation surveys, 81 (90%) rated the outreach event as good or excellent. Of 145 attendees who completed postvaccination surveys, 132 (91%) endorsed ≥1 key program feature as motivating them to either get vaccinated or vaccinate their child that day.
CONCLUSION: Community outreach events are important strategies for disseminating information, building trust, and facilitating COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
Included in
Clinical Epidemiology Commons, COVID-19 Commons, Diseases Commons, Epidemiology Commons, Influenza Virus Vaccines Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Medical Specialties Commons
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