Deployment of Health Equity Strike Teams to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Disparities in Arkansas, 2021

Am J Public Health. 2022 Jan;112(1):29-33. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306564.

Abstract

Minority populations have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and disparities have been noted in vaccine uptake. In the state of Arkansas, health equity strike teams (HESTs) were deployed to address vaccine disparities. A total of 13 470 vaccinations were administered by HESTs to 10 047 eligible people at 45 events. Among these individuals, 5645 (56.2%) were African American, 2547 (25.3%) were White, and 1068 (10.6%) were Hispanic. Vaccination efforts must specifically target populations that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(1):29-33. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306564).

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arkansas
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Ethnic and Racial Minorities*
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Equity / organization & administration*
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration
  • Healthcare Disparities / ethnology*
  • Healthcare Disparities / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines