CDU Collaborates with UC Irvine to Advance Vaccine Confidence
CDU will collaborate with UC Irvine to address vaccine confidence among African American and Black adults in South Central Los Angeles.
This partnership, supported by a $156,000 grant from Merck, aims to tackle the lower vaccination rates in these communities through targeted research and community engagement.
Dr. Suellen Hopfer from UC Irvine will lead the study, working closely with CDU’s Professor Cynthia Davis as Primary Investigator.
The research will involve surveys and questionnaires to better understand the attitudes towards vaccines among residents and healthcare provider students at CDU.
“This partnership with UC Irvine Public Health plays an essential role in promoting vaccine equity by addressing and overcoming prominent socio-structural constraints related to medical mistrust and structural inequities in healthcare,” said Davis. “The outcome of this research will play a vital role in implementing a community setting delivery of healthcare including vaccination and serves as a training site for CDU healthcare students.”
The findings will help develop effective vaccine communication strategies, tailored and culturally relevant messages, and training for future healthcare providers.
This initiative is a critical step towards promoting health equity and ensuring that lifesaving vaccines reach underserved populations.