SALT LAKE CITY – Utah leaders launch new roadmap for vaccine distribution to ensure all groups in the state have access to COVID-19 as the state continues to expand on who qualifies to receive it. .
Lt. Government Deidre Henderson said the roadmap was created as state leaders tried to ensure there was an “inclusive vaccination strategy” to cover groups that might otherwise be overlooked as vaccinations they grow.
The plan unveiled by the state on Thursday would facilitate better access to vaccine for people from minority communities, people with disabilities and people suffering from homelessness.
“Our goal is to make sure that vaccines are given correctly and fairly, and that every Utahn who wants a vaccine can get one, no matter who they are or where they live,” Henderson said. “The vaccine distribution roadmap urges vaccine providers across Utah to identify and remove barriers to access so that we can recover together without leaving anyone behind.”
This starts with identifying who might be left behind and creating a messaging campaign that all Utahns can understand. Data on the transmission of the virus in the first few months of the pandemic highlighted these problems, as they showed that minority communities were disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
In addition to addressing minority communities and tribal nations, the plan recognizes existing language barriers. Henderson said the roadmap is also intended to make it easier for Utahns to get the vaccine if they go home, do not have access to transportation, live in rural communities, households do not have access to computers to schedule a vaccine or program. who cannot leave work to be vaccinated.
The current plan is modifiable to allow for adjustments required by underrepresented communities or vaccine providers to provide better access to vaccines, she said.
“It is important that work plans include strategies focused on the specific needs of these groups,” the roadmap document states. “Strategies should be data-driven, use community leaders and partners to ensure that all Utahns receive accurate vaccination information from reliable sources and ensure that everyone has fair access to health services.”
Once it has been determined who cannot easily access the vaccine, the next strategy is to create appropriate messages to inform underrepresented groups how to gain access to it.
The part may be more difficult, state officials said, as some underrepresented groups may be more hesitant about administering the vaccine. The document released on Thursday said survey data showed that confidence in the vaccine was lower among African-American and Hispanic populations.
Our goal is to provide all Utahns with current, credible health information so they can make informed decisions for themselves and their families, the document added. “The state of Utah has many communication resources at its disposal to ensure that the correct health information reaches all Utahs, from sources they trust.”
The next step would be to find strategies for vaccinating all Utahs. This could be through mobile van vaccination routes or through community vaccination sites, Henderson said. Vans could travel to senior centers, correctional facilities or specific neighborhoods, where people could be shot COVID-19.
Clinics for people with disabilities could also be set up. Henderson added that the state spent nearly $ 1 million on language translation efforts alone, which helped the state translate its COVID-19 website and vaccine information into more than 20 languages.
Some of this has already been done. For example, Henderson said the Tri-County Department of Health in northeastern Utah has begun working with religious leaders to allow information to be distributed in multiple languages. The state has also started collaborating with the Spanish-language media to organize virtual meetings of the mayor’s office about the vaccine.
“It really takes a whole community to get to the whole community,” she said. “We are grateful to those who provided information about this roadmap and who continue to provide us with feedback and help us know where the needs are so that we can best reach those locations.”
The timeline is to get as many vaccinations completed by the end of 2021, according to the document. It was released the same day Governor Spencer Cox said he believed vaccine eligibility could be open to all adults in Utah until April.
The best vaccine for you is the one you can get first, regardless of the manufacturer.
–Dr. Angela Dunn, Utah Department of Health epidemiologist
The roadmap also defined success as having statewide vaccination rates that reflect “a proportional number of all Utahs who are vaccinated.”
This means that similar percentages of all populations have been vaccinated, including populations that may be at higher risk for severe disease due to social, economic or geographical factors, she adds.
Meanwhile, the state continues to expand vaccine distribution partnerships. It announced a partnership with three healthcare providers who began administering COVID-19 vaccines to patients this week.
The number of vaccination options has also increased this week with the addition of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which has been approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Dr. Angela Dunn, the state’s epidemiologist, asked questions that Utahns asked about what vaccine they should receive. She advocated for all Utahs to be vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, regardless of the drug manufacturer.
“The best vaccine for you is the one you can get first, regardless of the manufacturer,” she said. “It’s so interesting that we have three effective and safe vaccines against COVID-19 right now … The fact that we have three means we can end this pandemic sooner and it will take everyone to get the vaccine when it’s available to them. “