Evaluation of the COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts with Structural Racism and Low Vaccination Rates
Abstract
Background
The proportion of COVID-19 vaccination among African Americans (AAs) trails behind their white counterparts. Multiple strategies are being implemented in Georgia to address the low vaccination rates, however, very few studies have evaluated their effectiveness. In this study, we have two aims: first, we assess if structural inequalities are associated with COVID-19 outcomes. Second, we evaluate the alignment and impact of the efforts on promoting COVID-19 vaccination with structural inequalities and low rates of vaccination.
Methods
Data from the American Community Survey (2020) was used to calculate the structural racism index (SRI) at the census tract level. Data on the population proportion vaccinated for COVID-19 since March 2021 was obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). For the first aim, we used Poisson regression to calculate the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) of AAs vaccinated as a function of the SRI. For the second aim, we used information available on the web to identify vaccine promotion efforts and identify intervention census tracts to compare vaccination rates with the control census tracts.
Preliminary and expected results
Georgia had an average SRI of 5.86 with 47.7% of its AA population being administered at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of October 15, 2022. The SRI was a significant predictor of AAs getting vaccinated in Georgia [IRR: 1.014, p < 0.001]. Further, in the planned analysis we expect to find that the vaccine promotion efforts have played an important mediating role in promoting vaccination among minority sub-population facing structural racism.
Conclusion
Public health efforts in real time must address the structural inequities with targeted health promotion efforts to overcome the impact of structural inequities. This study will evaluate if the vaccine promotion efforts in the state were successful in overcoming the disparities in COVID-19 outcomes and vaccinations.
Keywords
COVID-19 vaccination, vaccination efforts evaluation, structural racism
Evaluation of the COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts with Structural Racism and Low Vaccination Rates
Background
The proportion of COVID-19 vaccination among African Americans (AAs) trails behind their white counterparts. Multiple strategies are being implemented in Georgia to address the low vaccination rates, however, very few studies have evaluated their effectiveness. In this study, we have two aims: first, we assess if structural inequalities are associated with COVID-19 outcomes. Second, we evaluate the alignment and impact of the efforts on promoting COVID-19 vaccination with structural inequalities and low rates of vaccination.
Methods
Data from the American Community Survey (2020) was used to calculate the structural racism index (SRI) at the census tract level. Data on the population proportion vaccinated for COVID-19 since March 2021 was obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). For the first aim, we used Poisson regression to calculate the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) of AAs vaccinated as a function of the SRI. For the second aim, we used information available on the web to identify vaccine promotion efforts and identify intervention census tracts to compare vaccination rates with the control census tracts.
Preliminary and expected results
Georgia had an average SRI of 5.86 with 47.7% of its AA population being administered at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of October 15, 2022. The SRI was a significant predictor of AAs getting vaccinated in Georgia [IRR: 1.014, p < 0.001]. Further, in the planned analysis we expect to find that the vaccine promotion efforts have played an important mediating role in promoting vaccination among minority sub-population facing structural racism.
Conclusion
Public health efforts in real time must address the structural inequities with targeted health promotion efforts to overcome the impact of structural inequities. This study will evaluate if the vaccine promotion efforts in the state were successful in overcoming the disparities in COVID-19 outcomes and vaccinations.
