This proposal unites academic and community partners to solve a dire need for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake in rural, underserved minority, and at-risk populations. Oklahoma has high COVID-19 incidence, high vaccine hesitancy, and signs of a slowing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake. Oklahoma's cumulative incidence is higher in rural compared to urban counties. AI people have a higher incidence of COVID-19 compared to white populations in Oklahoma. Despite high incidence, as of April 2021, an estimated 54% of Oklahomans who have not yet been vaccinated reported unwillingness to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy was even greater in AI people (62%). The most commonly reported concerns are vaccine side effects and safety (30%). Despite early progress in disseminating vaccines in Oklahoma, all signs point to waning interest in receiving a vaccine, with many vaccine clinics unable to fill all available slots, particularly in tribal clinics and rural areas. This proposal is an extension of the Oklahoma Shared Clinical Translational Resources (OSCTR) project CATCH-UP (Community-engaged Approaches to Testing in Community and Healthcare settings for Underserved Populations) in partnership with community organizations who work with underserved minority and rural populations. This project will build on existing strengths and infrastructure to improve SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake in these highly susceptible populations. The goal of the project is to pilot interventions to improve awareness and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. The project aims to work with CATCH-UP community events to implement interventions to improve vaccine uptake among Oklahoma's underserved populations. To do so, the proposed study employs a multiphase optimization strategy (MOST). The proposed study uses the preparation and optimization phases of the MOST framework across the following aims: 1) Identify SARS-CoV-2 vaccination barriers/facilitators and assess acceptability and feasibility of a suite of evidence-based vaccine intervention strategies among Oklahoma's rural, minority, and high-risk populations to inform a targeted multicomponent intervention; and 2) Develop and optimize a multicomponent intervention to improve SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among Oklahoman's seeking SARS-CoV-2 testing at CATCH-UP testing events. Investigators will conduct a pilot of these interventions based on community input, which will be evaluated for inclusion in a future, full-scale implementation study.
Oklahoma has high COVID-19 incidence, particularly among underserved minority and rural Oklahomans. Oklahoman's are also reporting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy and signs of slowing vaccine uptake, with increased hesitancy among American Indian and rural populations. The project aims to work with ongoing community testing events to implement interventions to improve vaccine uptake among Oklahoma's underserved populations.