Context and Considerations for the Development of Community-Informed Health Communication Messaging to Support Equitable Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Communities of Color in Washington, DC
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2-1-2023
Journal
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
Volume
10
Issue
1
DOI
10.1007/s40615-022-01231-8
Keywords
COVID-19; Communities of color; Vaccine equity; Washington, DC
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We explored barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among African American, Latinx, and African immigrant communities in Washington, DC. METHODS: A total of 76 individuals participated in qualitative interviews and focus groups, and 208 individuals from communities of color participated in an online crowdsourcing contest. RESULTS: Findings documented a lack of sufficient, accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines and questions about the science. African American and African immigrant participants spoke about the deeply rooted historical underpinnings to their community's vaccine hesitancy, citing the prior and ongoing mistreatment of people of color by the medical community. Latinx and African immigrant participants highlighted how limited accessibility played an important role in the slow uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in their communities. Connectedness and solidarity were found to be key assets that can be drawn upon through community-driven responses to address social-structural challenges to COVID-19 related vaccine uptake. CONCLUSIONS: The historic and ongoing socio-economic context and realities of communities of color must be understood and respected to inform community-based health communication messaging to support vaccine equity for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
APA Citation
Kerrigan, Deanna; Mantsios, Andrea; Karver, Tahilin Sanchez; Davis, Wendy; Taggart, Tamara; Calabrese, Sarah K.; Mathews, Allison; Robinson, Sullivan; Ruffin, Regretta; Feaster-Bethea, Geri; Quinteros-Grady, Lupi; Galvis, Carmen; Reyes, Rosa; Martinez Chio, Gabriela; Tesfahun, Mesgana; Lane, Ambrose; Peeks, Shanna; Henderson, Kimberly M.; and Harris, Kimberly M., "Context and Considerations for the Development of Community-Informed Health Communication Messaging to Support Equitable Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Communities of Color in Washington, DC" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 2501.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2501
Department
Prevention and Community Health