4.6 Article

COVID-19 Vaccine Sentiments Among African American or Black Adolescents in Rural Alabama

Journal

JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
Volume 69, Issue 6, Pages 1041-1043

Publisher

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.09.010

Keywords

COVID-19; Vaccine; Rural health; Adolescent health; Health equity

Funding

  1. Merck Sharp and Dohme, Corp. [60590]

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In rural Alabama, African American or black adolescents show hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccine, mainly due to influence of community leaders and older family members, fear of side effects and misinformation, and institutional distrust.
Considering the urgent need to increase vaccine uptake in Alabama, a rural state with the lowest rates of COVID-19 vaccination in the country, we conducted an exploratory study to elucidate sentiments toward vaccination among African American or black adolescents. We conducted indepth interviews with 15-17 year olds in rural Alabama (N = 28). About 54% of our sample were female. Nearly a third lived with an older family member; 18% knew someone who contracted COVID-19. Using Rapid Qualitative Analysis, 3 COVID-19 vaccine-related themes emerged: influence of community leaders and older family members, fear of side effects and misinformation, and institutional distrust. To address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among rural African American or black adolescents, we suggest adopting a socioecological approach to public health messaging that addresses misinformation and government distrust and is delivered by local influencers with the social capital necessary to promote behavior change, namely older family members and Church officials. (c) 2021 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.

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