Comparing community-driven COVID-19 vaccine distribution methods: Faith-based organizations vs. outpatient clinics

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Minority and low socioeconomic communities face barriers to vaccination, impacting uptake.
• Few studies investigate these barriers as causes of differential vaccine uptake.
• Community-driven approaches are crucial for equitable vaccine distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate two community-driven COVID-19 vaccination distribution methods: faith-based organizations (FBOs) and outpatient clinics.
• To understand the demographic differences between populations accessing each distribution method.
• To identify strategies for mitigating vaccination disparities.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 1,476 participants post-vaccination at clinical locations and FBOs.
• Chi-square tests were used to analyze differences between distribution locations.
• Data collection focused on race/ethnicity, insurance status, health literacy, education, vaccine trust, and hesitancy.

Main Results:

• FBOs reached a higher proportion of Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese participants compared to clinics.
• Participants at FBOs were more likely to be uninsured, have lower health literacy, and lower educational attainment.
• FBO participants reported higher trust in COVID-19 vaccines, with no significant difference in hesitancy or access.

Conclusions:

• Collaborations with FBOs can increase vaccination uptake among minority communities.
• Faith-based organizations are effective in reaching diverse populations and mitigating vaccination disparities.
• Community-driven vaccination strategies are essential for achieving health equity.