The Arizona prevention research center vaccine confidence network: A Mobile health unit intervention and survey results of barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic revealed health disparities and disproportionate adverse health outcomes among Arizona's Hispanic population. Structural barriers and social determinants of health that Hispanics face are important determinants of vaccine access and uptake. The Arizona Vaccine Confidence Network (AzVCN) leveraged the expertise of the Arizona Prevention Research Center (AzPRC) and the resources of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) Mobile Health Unit (MHU) to identify, implement and evaluate a MHU intervention to increase uptake of COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Methods: The AzVCN focused efforts on structural barriers facing Hispanic, rural, un/underinsured and farmworker communities in the four Arizona border counties. The AzVCN implemented a MHU intervention to reduce vaccination hesitancy and increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Hispanic rural, un/underinsured and farmworker populations in Southern Arizona from November 2021 through September 2022. A survey was conducted to assess barriers, facilitators, experiences, and beliefs of COVID-19 vaccination. Results: Hispanics were diagnosed with COVID-19 at a higher percentage (41.9 %) compared to non-Hispanics (20.3 %). Additionally, Hispanics had received a COVID-19 vaccination approximately 10 % higher than non-Hispanics (93.3 % vs 84.8 %). Hispanics also had higher percentages compared to non-Hispanics of personally knowing someone who became seriously ill or died as a result of COVID-19 (63.4 % vs 49.2 %), work or school requiring a COVID-19 vaccination (47.5 % vs 32.2 %), thinking that most people at work or school would get a COVID-19 vaccine if mandated (68.7 % vs 52.5 %), and knowing that the COVID-19 vaccine lessens symptoms of COVID-19 would help in deciding to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (66.2 % vs 57.6 %). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the Hispanic community. Addressing structural barriers of COVID-19 vaccination had a major impact on vaccination experiences, knowledge, beliefs, and uptake among Hispanics in Southern Arizona. By leveraging the MHU to address COVID-19 vaccination structural barriers and misinformation, the AzVCN has made an impact in the COVID-19 vaccine efforts in Arizona.