The Research Behind the Collaborations

Understanding Barriers in Vaccine Hesitancy & Education

Combating Vaccine Hesitancy: A Groundbreaking Initiative at the Point of COVID-19 Testing

In an era where vaccine hesitancy continues to challenge public health efforts, a new initiative spearheaded by healthcare experts aims to turn the tide. The program, centered around vaccine education at the point of testing, is a multi-faceted approach designed to increase vaccine uptake and address the underlying causes of hesitancy.

Specific Aims and Strategies

The program is built on three specific aims:

1. Rapid Vaccine Education Model: Implemented at testing sites like clinics and pharmacies, this model aims to boost vaccine completion rates by 15%. It represents a proactive approach to educate individuals about the vaccine at a critical decision-making point.

2. Assessing Barriers to Vaccination: Understanding the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy is crucial. This aim focuses on identifying obstacles such as access issues, insurance coverage, and other social determinants that influence vaccination decisions.

3. Evaluating Health System Barriers: The program also looks into the challenges faced by healthcare support staff in providing vaccine education, aiming to streamline the process and make it more effective.

Additional Goals and Healthcare Worker Recruitment

Beyond these aims, the initiative seeks to increase research capacity and training among community partners and students, ensuring a well-informed approach to public health. A diverse group of healthcare workers, including community pharmacists and certified immunizers, are being recruited, with a special focus on under-vaccinated regions to ensure equitable vaccine distribution.

Phased Implementation

The implementation is structured in phases:

• Phase I involves identifying healthcare workers by early July 2022 and enrolling them in the BrightSpace© Education Program, which covers various domains including vaccine hesitancy and patient communication. The completion of this phase is targeted for mid-July 2022.

• Phase II includes participant follow-up through various channels like a dedicated website, Facebook page, and call center, with incentives offered to maximize retention and engagement.

Inclusion Criteria and Participant Recruitment

The target population for this study is diverse, including individuals from various racial backgrounds and age groups. The recruitment process is designed to be inclusive, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of vaccine hesitancy across different demographics.

Community Engagement and Follow-Up

The initiative also involves community advisory board meetings to discuss research concerns and results. In Phase II, healthcare workers will follow up with participants, confirming vaccination status and collecting final survey data.

Conclusion

This innovative approach to vaccine education at the point of testing is a crucial step in addressing vaccine hesitancy. By engaging directly with individuals at testing sites and understanding the barriers they face, this program aims to increase vaccine uptake and contribute to the broader goal of public health safety. With its comprehensive strategy and inclusive approach, it stands as a model for future public health initiatives.

The Challenge:

COVID-19 has underscored significant healthcare disparities, particularly in testing and vaccine distribution. But a deeper issue lies in the heart of many communities: trust. Historical events, recent injustices, and the absence of open dialogue about discrimination in healthcare have fostered mistrust. Some residents question why there's sudden concern for their health during the pandemic when their health concerns in other areas, such as diabetes, have historically been overlooked.

The Study & Its Insights:

Xavier University of Louisiana embarked on the LA-CEAL project (visit Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 here) to better understand these disparities. Xavier was independently awarded a RAD-x UP (visit RAD-x Up here) supplement to look at testing and vaccine uptake. Xavier has continued to expand on focusing the preparation all healthcare workers to provide vaccine education in day-to-day patient exchanges.

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