Program to Alleviate National Disparities in Ethnic and Minority Immunizations in the Community (PANDEMIC) | UC Davis health

PANDEMIC is dedicated to boosting COVID-19 adult vaccination rates amongst communities where health care skepticism is common and vaccination rates are low. Through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this project is a collaborative effort between university faculty, community health workers (Promotoras), and community-based organizations to meet community members where they work and live.

The University of California, Davis, Center for Reducing Health Disparities (CRHD) is implementing community-focused activities to increase vaccine awareness, access, and confidence among racial and ethnic groups experiencing disparities in vaccination coverage. Primarily working with farmworkers, their family members, and other low-income Latino and immigrant families in communities where COVID-19 clusters (cases, hospitalizations) and inequities in vaccine uptake are most pronounced.

Below is the transcribed text from our flyer, titled "Meaningful Community Engagement: How People, Stories and Data Advance Health Equity"

Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola. M.D., Ph.D. University of California, Davis Health.
J. Lloyd Michener. M.D. Duke University.
Miriam Hernandez M.D. Vision y Compromiso.
Debra S. Oto-Kent. M.P.H. Health Education Council.
Asia Williams. M.P.H. National Academy of Science.

Our activities include:

• Engaging and coordinating with Sacramento and Yolo County local partners using a health equity- and community-centered approach to reach racial and ethnic minority populations in a culturally and linguistically diverse manner.
• Partner with a Community Based Organization (CBO), which will provide Community Health Worker/Promotoras to engage community residents to provide vaccine information and help recruit people for vaccine.
• Coordination of screening, delivery of vaccinations at predetermined sites on a regular basis with flexible hours
• Conduct an environmental scan and evaluate implementation projects to contribute to the evidence base
• Collate and share learnings, promising practices, and materials with the broader program during Community Our Health Town Hall virtual meetings (UF coordinates)
• Participate in group and peer-sharing opportunities to share expertise with other organizations in the CDC partner network

• Conduct radio interviews with open lines for callers to answer questions

PANDEMIC in the News

KCRA3 (NBC): State, health officials pushing more COVID-19 shots in low vaccination zip codes

Fox40: Mobile vaccination clinics launch in Sacramento, Yolo counties

National Town Hall recording: Our Youth's Mental Health: COVID-19's Silent Impact