RRF Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination
Title:
Partnership for Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination Among At-Risk Older Adults
Dates:
March 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022
Funding Source:
RRF Foundation for Aging
Grant Number:
n/a
Background:
COVID-19 has yielded an unprecedented threat to older adults and those with underlying health conditions who are at greater risk for adverse outcomes if infected. With pervasive health misinformation, both about the virus and vaccines, there is concern that many of those at greatest risk may demonstrate hesitancy towards the vaccine – especially those in more vulnerable, underserved communities.
Description:
The overall objective of this study is to rapidly develop, implement, and evaluate a targeted, multifaceted, COVID-19 vaccine messaging and promotion strategy among older, English and Spanish-speaking Latinx adults.
We are excited to be partnering with AllianceChicago and Friend Health to achieve this important work. This grant is an extension of our work with the Pepper Center, striving to improve health outcomes among older adults.
Project Goals and Objectives
1. Develop, using key stakeholder and community input, a COVID-19 vaccine health messaging strategy tailored to older Latinx adults that includes a concise, 1-page, multimedia, PDF fact sheet, campaign slogan, and a series of short promotional messages amenable for use in texting platforms.
2. Implement and pre-test the COVID-19 vaccine messaging strategies among patients from community health centers that have already developed infrastructure to 1) embed the 1-page fact sheet in electronic health records (EHRs) for distribution with after-visit summaries, 2) electronically deposit the fact sheet as a new message in EHR patient portals, 3) leverage existing SMS text platforms currently used for appointment reminders to send short promotional messages.
3. Evaluate the initial implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine messaging strategies’ efficacy to change behavior, as well as its fidelity and reach.
At the conclusion of this project, we will seek to archive and make publicly available for downloading all of our health messaging materials as well as the commensurate implementation guides and protocols. Leveraging CAHRA and our Northwestern Pepper Center resources and contacts, we will actively seek to promote our low literacy, culturally tailored content and activities throughout the Chicago, Illinois, regional and national communities of health care providers, health and human service organizations providing services to seniors, as well as local, state and federal government entities as appropriate.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:
n/a
Contact
• Principal Investigator: Michael Wolf, PhD MPH
• Project Lead: Andrea Zuleta