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

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Listed:
  • Rachael Piltch-Loeb

    (Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, NY 10027, USA
    Department of Environmental, Occupational, Geospatial Health Sciences, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, NY 10027, USA)

  • Josefina Nuñez Sahr

    (Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, NY 10027, USA)

  • LaRon E. Nelson

    (Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06477, USA
    Justice, Community Capacity & Equity (JuCCE) Core, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA)

  • David Vlahov

    (Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06477, USA)

  • Robyn R. Gershon

    (Department of Epidemiology, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York City, NY 10003, USA)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachael Piltch-Loeb & Josefina Nuñez Sahr & LaRon E. Nelson & David Vlahov & Robyn R. Gershon, 2024. "Barriers and Facilitators to Vaccine Equity Amidst the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1588-:d:1532248
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hennie Boeije, 2002. "A Purposeful Approach to the Constant Comparative Method in the Analysis of Qualitative Interviews," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 36(4), pages 391-409, November.
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