A Rural Community-Based Collaboration to Reduce COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Using a Health Belief Model Framework

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Community Engagement

Background:

• Rural communities face significant barriers to vaccination and resource limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Targeted, community-based strategies are crucial for reducing disparities, illness, and death in rural populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a sustainable partnership with a rural health system in upstate New York.
• To address and reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within the rural community.

Main Methods:

• Developed and implemented culturally appropriate behavioral messaging.
• Utilized the Health Belief Model to guide intervention design.
• Evaluated the effectiveness of the community-based strategy.

Main Results:

• The community-university partnership fostered a bidirectional exchange of information.
• Trust, equitable involvement, and community ownership were critical success factors.
• Culturally tailored materials were developed for the rural audience.

Conclusions:

• Successful collaboration relies on trust, shared decision-making, and community empowerment.
• Partnerships are vital for creating effective, context-specific health interventions for rural populations.