September 15, 2021 — The Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity received a CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Network grant to increase vaccine equity in three Massachusetts communities.
The HPRC has team has partnered with grassroots community-based organizations (CBOs) in three Massachusetts cities (Lynn, Brockton, and Springfield) in order to improve vaccine access, knowledge, and positive norms. Our collaboration with community organizers and leaders drives the types of vaccine outreach and strategies we help to implement and support.
We meet with teams from each community via Zoom every other week and attend community meetings to stay up-to-date on the needs of the community and tailor our COVID-19 vaccine communication materials according to rapidly evolving interests and gaps.
Individuals from these communities have provided us with translations of our website, flyers, and social media messages in Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Portuguese. Some of the needs identified during these meetings include information on booster shot eligibility, where to get pediatric vaccinations, and addressing fertility and pregnancy misinformation.