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

Program to Alleviate National Disparities in Ethnic and Minority Immunizations in the Community (PANDEMIC)

Latino male giving a survey to a woman

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.

Our Community Our Health Logo     Health Education Council Logo    Health Street Logo     PANDEMIC logo

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