Advancing vaccine equity: A mixed-methods study to understand vaccine hesitancy, structural barriers, and trust in vaccine information among medically underserved populations living in the rural south

Vaccine hesitancy is a major threat to high vaccine coverage. In 2019, the WHO listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten threats to global health. Concerns about vaccines among parents are on the rise. Recommendations from healthcare providers are important for vaccine acceptance; yet many vaccine providers feel uncomfortable counseling vaccine-hesitant patients. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted deleterious US health inequities. Specifically, African Americans, Latinos, and American Indian and Alaska Natives have and continue to shoulder a greater burden of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the US. We aim to conduct a study around vaccine equity for and with vaccine hesitant populations in the rural south who are disproportionally affected by health disparities. This aim will be met across three objectives: Objective 1: To identify the structural barriers experienced vaccine hesitant individuals living in the rural south. Objective 2: Understand reasons for vaccine hesitancy among medically underserved populations living in the rural south. Objective 3: To identify the best communication techniques (virtual, social media, text, in-person, healthcare provider communication, church etc..) in improving vaccine acceptance among vaccine hesitant populations living in the rural south to boost vaccine confidence and trust.

Scholars @ ECU