COVID-19 HEALTH AWARENESS
Discover ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Discover ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
South Carolina State University Center for COVID Health Information was designed expand existing and/or develop new mitigation and prevention resources and services to reduce COVID-19-related disparities among populations at higher risk and that are underserved.
Since 2020, health disparities have increased among rural minorities due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 virus. Many rural communities, especially Black communities, lack reliable and accurate information about the COVID virus, increasing the risks of individuals becoming infected, hospitalized, and even dying. Past experiences of mistreatment, racism, and historical events such as the Tuskegee Experiments have created mistrust for research activities and getting the COVID vaccine. There is an urgent need to filter the truth back into the communities to reduce COVID-related deaths, fear, and vaccine hesitancy among African Americans. According to the South Carolina COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, as of September 21, 2022, most rural counties with 40% – 73% Blacks have between 42%-63% of the people fully vaccinated. The SC State University Center for COVID Health information seeks to promote vaccination and increase the rate of fully vaccinated individuals within these communities.
The Center for COVID Health Information has trained 50 Community Health Coaches (CHCs), which consisted of 36 community members and 14 students attending Historical Black Colleges and Universities in South Carolina. CHCs have recruited 711 people to attend COVID Listening Sessions (22) to investigate vaccine hesitancy among Blacks. Also, the trained CHCs were equipped with updated COVID information to share with the community, family, friends, co-workers, etc., to reduce the myths about vaccines in their perspective communities. Data has been collected from the Listening Sessions and CHC Training. Data has been compiled and analyzed by the team. Tailored messages were developed and disseminated back into the community by the CHCs and staff to enhance mitigation of the COVID vaccine during outreach events, which started in December 2022.
The purpose of this additional funding is to address COVID-19-related health disparities and advance health equity among Blacks living in rural areas of South Carolina by enhancing current efforts in disseminating information, reaching more rural communities, and providing access to the COVID vaccine for the underserved populations on the spot during campus and community events.
A partnership between the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and SC State University
300 College Ave, Orangeburg, South Carolina 29115, United States
Copyright © 2024 SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and SC State University - All Rights Reserved.
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