COVID-19 Reflections: COVID-19 Vaccination in North Carolina: Promoting Equity by Partnering with Communities and Health Care Providers

Charlene A Wong; Carolina Alzuru; Kody Kinsley; Ryan Jury; Margaret L Sauer; Tivi Jones; Victor Armstrong

doi:10.18043/ncm.83.3.197

COVID-19 Reflections: COVID-19 Vaccination in North Carolina: Promoting Equity by Partnering with Communities and Health Care Providers

N C Med J. 2022 May-Jun;83(3):197-202. doi: 10.18043/ncm.83.3.197.

Authors

Charlene A Wong¹, Carolina Alzuru², Kody Kinsley³, Ryan Jury⁴, Margaret L Sauer⁵, Tivi Jones⁶, Victor Armstrong⁷

Affiliations

¹ Assistant secretary for children and families, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina. Charlene.wong@dhhs.nc.gov.
² Senior director, Healthier Together, NC Counts Coalition, Raleigh, North Carolina.
³ Secretary, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina.
⁴ Program director, COVID-19 Vaccine Program, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina.
⁵ Director, Office of Rural Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina.
⁶ Marketing communications consultant, Hey Awesome Girl, Durham, North Carolina.
⁷ Chief health equity officer, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina.

PMID: 35504705
DOI: 10.18043/ncm.83.3.197

Abstract

North Carolina implemented a rapid statewide COVID-19 vaccine strategy that focused on vaccinating people quickly and equitably. We describe the sociodemographic factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake in North Carolina and how these factors were considered in communication as well as community and health care provider engagement in the COVID-19 response.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Vaccines*
COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Health Personnel
Humans
North Carolina / epidemiology
Vaccination

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines