Cooperative Agreement NH23IP922653

COMMUNITY CATALYST VACCINE EQUITY AND ACCESS PROGRAM (VEAP) - VACCINATION IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION THAT, WHERE ACCESSIBLE, PREVENTS INFECTION AND THE SPREAD OF ILLNESS, SAVING MILLIONS OF LIVES EVERY YEAR. HOWEVER, PERMEATING RACIAL INEQUITIES IN HEALTH CARE, LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COMBINED WITH AN INHERENT DISTRUST OF THE VERY SYSTEMS THAT CREATE AND REINFORCE THESE INEQUITIES, HAVE RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF HEALTH DISPARITIES?INCLUDING IN ADULT VACCINATION RATES?BETWEEN WHITE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE UNITED STATES. COMMUNITY CATALYST?S VACCINE EQUITY AND ACCESS PROGRAM (VEAP) WILL SELECT AND EQUIP 75 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SERVING A DIVERSE RANGE OF AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE, AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK, ASIAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC/LATINX AMERICAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES, TO BUILD VACCINE CONFIDENCE AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL PROVIDERS THAT ENABLE BOTH SHORT TERM BOOSTS IN COVID-19 VACCINATION AND LONGER-TERM INCREASES IN ADULT INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS. THE PROGRAM WILL ACHIEVE THESE GOALS BY: TRAINING TRUSTED COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ACT AS AMBASSADORS FOR VACCINE CONFIDENCE; IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND PROVIDERS; PROVIDING MESSAGING TO SUPPORT VACCINATION AND COMBAT HARMFUL MYTHS; AND DEVELOPING BROAD VACCINE CONFIDENCE NETWORKS THAT SUSTAIN SUPPORT FOR VACCINE EDUCATION AND ACCESS IN THE LONG-TERM.