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Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2024CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake Among African Immigrants: Lessons from a Community-Based Outreach Program
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, pp 1-15
05 Mar 2024
Featured in Collection : Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
Abstract
In 2021, the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) implemented a community-based vaccine education and outreach program to decrease hesitancy and increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among African immigrants in Philadelphia. The program had three components: (1) tailored messaging on the benefits of vaccines by trusted community health navigators in familiar languages/dialects, (2) use of educational/tabling events, and (3) establishment of a vaccine clinic in community settings. Using secondary data analysis, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and a self-administered survey, we explored (i) the impact and effectiveness of the outreach program and extent of vaccine uptake, (ii) African immigrants’ beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine, and (iii) barriers and facilitators of vaccine knowledge, uptake, and hesitancy. Our analysis showed that ACANA’s outreach program was effective in addressing several cultural, logistic, and systematic barriers to vaccine uptake. The program distributed 2000 educational/informational flyers, reached 3000 community members via social media campaigns, and an additional 2320 through other person-to-person outreach events. The program was effective and resulted in the vaccination of 1265 community members over the course of the outreach. The impact of this outreach underscores the critical role of community-based organizations in addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine uptake in underserved and minority communities. The paper concludes with suggestions and recommendations for using community-based outreach programs to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and decrease hesitancy.
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Details
- Title
- Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake Among African Immigrants
- Creators
- Emmanuel F Koku (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University, Sociology
- Publication Details
- Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, pp 1-15
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Academic Unit
- Sociology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001174886400003
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105001084417
- Other Identifier
- 991021858315604721
InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health