PM2084: Navigating COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Black, Indigenous and People of Color Communities in 2021

Sunday, October 9, 2022

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM US PDT

Location: Anaheim Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Center, Board # 084

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, racial disparities in the percentage of people with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine exist among those fully vaccinated. Similarly, the Kaiser Family Foundation found disproportionately low COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities with increased burdens of COVID-19 deaths nationally. This qualitative study aims to improve understanding of how underrepresented minority (URM) healthcare professionals, who witness and experience contradicting historical, racial, and scientific arguments, navigate the complex climate of COVID-19 in America and use their influence and expertise to combat low COVID-19 vaccine uptake among BIPOC communities. Data obtained will be used to develop recommendations for improving COVID-19 vaccine administration in BIPOC communities.

Methods: Using a phenomenological framework, the study invited 15 URM professionals in various roles in the healthcare system, with nearly 250 years of experience collectively, to discuss observations of low COVID-19 vaccine receptivity in their community, personal reflections on the vaccine roll-out, and their personal view on self-vaccination. The cohort constituted authors from an anthology exploring how URM healthcare workers confront racism, health disparities, and the trauma of COVID-19. Excluded participants were non-clinical or opted out. Inductive study methods were used to elucidate novel and shared perspectives among interviewees.

Results: With 67% of the results in and calculated (8/12), observations about vaccine hesitancy involved the following common themes: concerns about rapid production, conspiracy theories, and misinformation (100%, 8/8); negative news coverage, lack of COVID-19 vaccine information, and lack of trust in institutions (88%, 7/8). The following common strategies were used or recommended to reduce hesitancy: revelation of personal vaccine experience, acknowledgement of limited information available, and storytelling (100%); utilization of URM healthcare providers in marketing (88%). Formal data analysis is ongoing and final results will be presented at the forum.

Conclusion: Future investigations are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies as interventions.

Presenting Author(s)

Yolanda Lewis-Ragland, MD, FAAP, FABOM

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Children's National Hospital
Children's National Health Center
Washington, District of Columbia

Co-Author(s)

AM

Anthony McClenny, MD, MPH

Pediatric Resident Physician
Children's National Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia

Co-Author(s)

DG

Danoucheka Gelin, MD, MBA

Pediatric Resident Physician
Children's National Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia
Erika Rucker, MD

Pediatric Resident Physician
Children's National Hospital
Children's National Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia
RO

Ronke Olowojesiku, MD, MPH

Pediatric Resident Physician
Children's National Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia
Theiline T. Gborkorquellie, MD, MHS, FAAP

Assistant Director of Health Equity Education, Pediatric Residency Program; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Children's National Hospital
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Washington, District of Columbia
Aisha R. Quarles-Fisher, MD, FAAP

General Pediatrician
Children's National Hospital
George Washington University School of Medical Sciences
Washington, District of Columbia