Abstract
BackgroundThe pandemic exposed weaknesses in existing social and health care infrastructures, disproportionately affecting health outcomes, particularly within rural communities. Addressing these challenges within rural settings requires innovative interventions. This study seeks to evaluate the role of an interagency network in increasing vaccine uptake in rural settings. MethodsThe Network, a partnership of community based clinical and social service organizations, including community pharmacies, community health workers and academic researchers, implemented outreach activities which targeted factors related to access to and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines at the individual, interpersonal, community and environmental levels. Qualitative methods including in-depth interviews and content analysis of transcripts from planning and networking meetings, were subjected to narrative analysis to document the effectiveness of this multi-component intervention. ResultsThrough different outreach efforts, the Network was able to achieve 84,206 educational touchpoints and administer 14,769 vaccines to individuals in the 16-county project area in southeastern Missouri. Leveraging the influence of community pharmacists and community health workers was found to be effective in overcoming barriers to access, improving vaccine uptake, and addressing social and health inequities. Facilitators for the partnership and the success of its initiatives included trust, capacity building, and enhancing access, while poor communication and unclear role definition created barriers. ConclusionStudy highlights the benefits of community health workers (CHWs) and community pharmacists working collaboratively to increase vaccine uptake in rural Missouri. Findings provide support for expanding this model for future health initiatives.
Published Version
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