475. The Utility of Community-Academic Partnerships in Promoting the Equitable Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccines in Black Communities

Abstract

Background In the U.S., non-Hispanic Black individuals are disproportionately represented amongst COVID-19 mortalities. The COVID-19 vaccines are poised to change this outcome; however, inequitable access and decades of medical mistreatment have resulted in healthcare mistrust and an associated low uptake within this group. Loma Linda University (LLU) houses the largest mass vaccination site in San Bernardino County (SBC) California; nevertheless, there has been a perpetual low representation of Black vaccinees. To increase the number of Black persons vaccinated, a selected team at LLU leveraged a community-academic partnership model to address vaccine hesitancy and increase access to the COVID-19 vaccines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the number of Black persons vaccinated in community settings compared to the mass clinic. Methods LLU developed a tiered approach to increase COVID-19 vaccinations within Black SBC communities. The first tier engaged faith leaders with the academic community in disseminating COVID-19 health information, the second included culturally representative LLU healthcare professionals in the delivery of COVID-19 educational webinars, and the third was to conduct low barrier, remote-site vaccination clinics, within targeted Black communities. Following these efforts, we compared the number of Black individuals vaccinated in the LLU mass clinic to those vaccinated in the community remote-site clinics. Results The remote-site COVID-19 vaccination clinics commenced in February 2021. From February 1 until April 30, 2021, 24,808 individuals were vaccinated in the LLU mass clinic with a first dose (Pfizer or Moderna) or single dose (Janssen) of a COVID-19 vaccine, however, only 908 (3.7%) were Black vaccinees. Contrastingly, the LLU remote site clinics vaccinated 1,542 individuals with a first or single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of those vaccinees, 675 (44%) were Black. Conclusion The multi-tiered community approach (remote-site vaccination clinics) resulted in a necessary overrepresentation of Black vaccinees, previously underrepresented in the LLU traditional mass vaccination clinic effort (44% vs. 3.7%, respectively). Further research is warranted to examine the key elements to increase vaccinations amongst minoritized groups. COVID-19 Vaccination Comparisons Between Models This table includes data from the Loma Linda University Mass Vaccination Clinic and the Remote-Site Vaccination Efforts compared to the San Bernardino County Demographics Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Rapid Implementation of a Community–Academic Partnership Model to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Equity within Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Communities

“…This equity-focused approach to increase vaccine uptake was initially developed to reach our non-Hispanic Black communities [17]. We then adapted and expanded it to engage Hispanic/Latino communities [27].…”

Leveraging Black pharmacists to promote equity in COVID‐19 vaccine uptake within Black communities: A framework for researchers and clinicians

“…45 The methods and outcomes of this vaccination effort have been presented both nationally and internationally. 46,47 Mirroring this effort, Black pharmacists continue to create mobile vaccination clinics and other accessible community immunization modalities to serve urban and rural areas heavily populated by Black individuals. 39,48 Notably, Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) have utilized the COVID-19 pandemic as a learning tool for future pharmacists on health care inequities and the placement of pharmacists in mitigating public health disparities.…”

“…Overall, in these clinics, 83.7% of the vaccine attendees were Black persons, drastically differing from the non‐community vaccination clinic comparative approach, in which only 3% of the vaccines were Black individuals 45 . The methods and outcomes of this vaccination effort have been presented both nationally and internationally 46,47 . Mirroring this effort, Black pharmacists continue to create mobile vaccination clinics and other accessible community immunization modalities to serve urban and rural areas heavily populated by Black individuals 39,48…”

“…45 The methods and outcomes of this vaccination effort have been presented both nationally and internationally. 46 , 47 Mirroring this effort, Black pharmacists continue to create mobile vaccination clinics and other accessible community immunization modalities to serve urban and rural areas heavily populated by Black individuals. 39 , 48…”

Theater for Vaccine Hesitancy—Setting the Stage for Difficult Conversations

“…ith almost one-quarter of Americans unwilling to get immunized with available COVID-19 vaccines, 1 vaccine hesitancy remains a substantial obstacle to controlling the coronavirus pandemic. This essay describes our experience with a Theater for Vaccine Hesitancy training program that uses improvisational theater techniques to help health care workers have collaborative conversations with unvaccinated patients about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.…”