Work

Barriers and Facilitators to Vaccine Equity Amidst the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in the United States

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: State and local health departments were responsible for ensuring equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. This qualitative study aimed to identify the challenges, strategies, disappointments, and successes in achieving equity for hard-to-reach and at-risk populations. Using a purposive sampling strategy, 16 individuals affiliated with health departments across nine states, each holding leadership roles in vaccine distribution, were interviewed between late 2021 and mid-2022. The key factors promoting vaccine equity included (1) inviting community members to serve on vaccine advisory groups to participate in decision-making; (2) utilizing pre-existing community relationships and spaces to facilitate the planning and distribution of the vaccine; and (3) establishing and building upon community outreach to support accessibility and uptake of the vaccine. The barriers included (1) a lack of clarity on vaccine prioritization criteria; (2) language/communication access; and (3) the initial focus on mass vaccination sites for vaccine delivery. The stakeholders also highlighted potential facilitators for increasing equity in future vaccine rollouts. Overall, community engagement emerged as a critical factor in ensuring equity during disaster response efforts.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21121588

Authors: Rachael Piltch-Loeb, Josefina Nuñez Sahr, LaRon E. Nelson, David Vlahov, Robyn R. Gershon

Institutions: City University of New York, Yale University, New York University

Language: English

Topic: Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,842