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SALT LAKE CITY – Utah leaders have launched a new “vaccine delivery roadmap” to ensure all groups in the state have access to the COVID-19 vaccine as the state continues to ” broaden the parameters concerning the persons qualified to receive it.
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said the roadmap was created as state leaders sought to ensure there was an “inclusive immunization strategy” that would cover groups that might otherwise be overlooked as that vaccinations would increase.
The plan unveiled by the state on Thursday would allow individuals from minority communities, people with disabilities and homeless people to have better access to 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, no matter who they are or where they live,” said Henderson. “The Vaccine Distribution Roadmap calls on vaccine providers across the state of Utah to identify and remove barriers to access so we can recover together without leaving anyone behind.
It starts with identifying who might be left behind and creating a messaging campaign all Utahns can understand. Virus transmission data from the first months of the pandemic highlighted these problems as it showed that minority communities were disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
In addition to attacking minority communities and tribal nations, the plan recognizes already existing language barriers. Henderson said the roadmap also aims to make it easier for Utahns to get the vaccine if they are confined to the home, if they do not have access to transportation, residents of rural communities, households that do not do not have access to computers to schedule a vaccine. appointments, or people who cannot leave work to get vaccinated.
The current plan is changeable to allow for adjustments requested by under-represented communities or vaccine providers to also 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 all Utahns get accurate immunization information from trusted sources, and ensure 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 appropriate message to let underrepresented groups know how they can access it.
The game may be more difficult, state officials said, as some under-represented groups may be more hesitant to get vaccinated. The document released Thursday said survey data shows confidence in the vaccine to be 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 numerous communications resources to ensure that accurate health information reaches all Utahns, from sources they trust.”
The next step would be to find strategies to get all Utahns vaccinated. This could be done through mobile vaccination routes or community vaccination sites, Henderson said. The vans could travel to senior centers, correctional facilities, or specific neighborhoods where people could get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Clinics could also be set up for people with disabilities. Henderson added that the state has spent nearly $ 1 million on language translation efforts alone, which has helped the state translate its COVID-19 and vaccine information website into more than 20 languages.
Some of this has already been done. For example, Henderson said the Tri-County Department of Health in northeast Utah has started working with religious leaders to enable information to be disseminated in many languages. The state has also started working with the Spanish-speaking media to organize virtual public meetings on the vaccine.
“It really takes a whole community to reach the whole community,” she said. “We are grateful to those who have contributed to this roadmap and who continue to provide feedback and help us know where the need is so that we can best reach these places.”
The schedule is to get as many vaccinations as possible by the end of 2021, according to the document. It was released the same day Governor Spencer Cox said he believed vaccine eligibility could open to all adults in Utah by 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 Utahns are vaccinated.”
“This means that similar percentages of all populations have been vaccinated, including in populations that may be at higher risk for serious illness due to social, economic or geographic factors,” he adds.
Meanwhile, the state continues to expand its vaccine distribution partnerships. He announced a partnership with three health care providers who 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 has been approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration.
At a press briefing Thursday, Dr Angela Dunn, the state epidemiologist, responded to questions from Utahns regarding the vaccine they should receive. She advocated for all Utahns to be vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, regardless of the manufacturer of the drug.
“The best vaccine for you is the one you can get first from no matter the manufacturer,” she said. “It’s so exciting that we currently have three effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines. … The fact that we have three means we can end this pandemic sooner, and it will require everyone to receive the vaccine when it becomes available. “
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