SALT LAKE CITY – Utah leaders launch a new “vaccine distribution roadmap” to ensure all groups in the state have access to the COVID-19 vaccine as the state continues to expand the parameters on who meets the requirements to receive it.
Lt. Deidre Henderson said the roadmap was created as state leaders tried to make sure there was an “inclusive vaccination strategy” that would cover groups that might otherwise be overlooked. as vaccinations increased.
The plan unveiled Thursday by the state will make it easier for individuals from minority communities, people with disabilities and the homeless to better access the vaccine.
“Our goal is to make sure that vaccines are administered fairly and equitably, and that every Utahn who wants a vaccine can get one regardless of who they are or where they live,” Henderson said. “The vaccine distribution roadmap directs vaccine providers across the state of Utah to identify and remove barriers to access so we can recover together without leaving anyone behind.”
This begins by identifying who may be left behind and creating a messaging campaign that all Utahns can understand. Virus transmission data from the first months of the pandemic highlighted these problems because 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 also wants to make it easier for Utahns to get the vaccine if they get home, if they don’t have access to transportation, rural community residents, households that don’t have access to computers to schedule a vaccine by appointment, or people who can’t. get out of work to get vaccinated.
The current plan can be modified to allow adjustments requested by underrepresented communities or vaccine providers to also provide better access to vaccines, he said.
“It is important that work plans include strategies focused on the specific needs of these groups,” the roadmap document states. “Strategies should be based on data, use community leaders and partners to ensure that all Utahs get accurate information about vaccination from trusted sources and ensure that everyone has equitable access to health services.” .
Once it has been established who may not have easy access to the vaccine, the next strategy is to create the right messages to inform underrepresented groups of how they can access it.
The part may be more difficult, state officials said, because some underrepresented groups may have more doubts about the vaccine. The paper released Thursday indicated that survey data show that confidence in the vaccine was lower among African American and Hispanic populations.
“Our goal is to provide all Utahns with current and credible health information so that they can make informed decisions for themselves and their families,” the document adds. “The state of Utah has a lot of communication resources available to make sure accurate health information reaches all Utahns, from trusted sources.”
The next step would be to find out strategies for vaccinating all Utahns. This could be through mobile vaccine van routes or vaccination sites in communities, Henderson said. Vans could travel to senior centers, prisons or specific neighborhoods where people could receive their COVID-19.
Clinics for people with disabilities could also be set up. Henderson added that the state has spent nearly $ 1 million on language translation efforts alone, which has helped the state translate its vaccine and COVID-19 information website in addition to 20 languages.
Part of that has already been done. For example, Henderson said the three-county Health Department in northeastern Utah began working with religious leaders to allow information to be distributed in many languages. The state also began working with Spanish-speaking media to hold virtual town hall meetings on the vaccine.
“It really takes a whole community to reach the whole community,” he said. “We are grateful for those who have provided information on this roadmap and who continue to provide feedback and help us know where the needs are so that we can get to these places better.”
According to the document, the timeline is to finish the maximum number of vaccines by the end of 2021. It was launched on the same day that Governor Spencer Cox said he believed the possibility of receiving the vaccine could be opened to all adults in Utah in 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 statewide vaccination rates that reflect “a proportional number of all vaccinated Utahns.”
“This means that similar percentages of all populations have been vaccinated, including populations that may be at increased risk for serious illness due to social, economic or geographical factors,” he adds.
Meanwhile, the state continues to expand vaccine distribution associations. It announced a partnership with three healthcare providers that began administering COVID-19 vaccines to patients this week.
The number of vaccine options also increased this week with the addition of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration.
At a news conference Thursday, Dr. Angela Dunn, a state epidemiologist, addressed questions Utahns have asked about what vaccine they should receive. He called for all Utahns 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,” he said. “It’s so exciting that we have three effective and safe vaccines against COVID-19 right now … Having three means we can end this pandemic sooner and everyone will need to get the vaccine when it’s available.”