FAMU Center for Health Disparities Research

SUMMARY The overall goal of this community partnership is to expose social determinants as well as behavioral, and ethical factors that may influence COVID-19 vaccination among racial, ethnic, and vulnerable community populations in Gadsden County, Florida. The County has among the country's highest shares of residents who are housed in nursing homes, prisons, or in other institutionalized group quarters (8.4%), and of households with no access to a vehicle (11.7%). Over the years, the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health has developed strong collaborative relationships with community organizations in Gadsden County through various community-based participatory research projects. The study investigators have partnered with Gadsden County stakeholders and community-based organizations on several racial disparity issues such as infant mortality, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and HIV/AIDS. As part of our community-based participatory approach, we will partner with the Gadsden Community Health Council to implement a quantitative survey to measure the perceptions of the community regarding the disparities in COVID-19 among racial/ethnic populations as well as intent to vaccinate against the virus. Additionally, qualitative interviews will be conducted with community members to better understand perceptions of vaccine hesitancy among vulnerable racial and ethnic populations. A behavioral intervention will be implemented utilizing CDC's Community-Based Organizations COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit and The Toolkit for Community and Faith-Based Organizations. Pre and Post intention to vaccinate will be based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.