The Partnering for Vaccine Equity (P4VE) program, launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2021, aims to promote vaccine equity among racial and ethnic minority groups. It supports national, state, local, and community-based organizations (CBOs) with resources such as a learning community, data assistance, and national communications. Through the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ (NACCHO) P4VE program, NACCHO has distributed over $5 million to local health departments (LHDs) across 21 states and the District of Columbia, enhancing vaccination efforts for COVID-19 and influenza.
A P4VE Summit was held May 7-8, 2024, in Washington, D.C., which brought together LHDs to share insights and foster connections. Facilitated by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the event resulted in the creation of a Roadmap for Progress: Key Focus Areas in Adult Immunization. This collaborative document provides actionable guidance to enhance vaccine equity and strengthen adult immunization programs.
Key themes discussed at the P4VE Summit included:
- Challenges of Politicization and Public Health Restrictions: Participants highlighted difficulties such as budget cuts, political interference, and internal departmental politics that hinder vaccine outreach.
- Building and Sustaining Community Trust: Fostering trust through collaboration with local partners and addressing misinformation were central to successful programs.
- Strategic Partnerships: The importance of partnerships with diverse community groups (e.g., churches, local businesses, marginalized communities) was emphasized to expand vaccine access.
- Expanding Outreach: Mobile clinics and the involvement of community health workers (CHWs) were identified as effective strategies for reaching underserved populations.
- Sustainability of Incentives: While incentives proved effective in boosting participation, sustaining engagement without them remains a challenge.
- Culturally Relevant Outreach: Providing linguistically and culturally appropriate materials was essential for reaching diverse communities.
- Data-Driven Advocacy: Using compelling data to advocate for public health was recognized as a key strategy for gaining support and informing policy.
- Expansive and Relational Partnerships: Adopting relational approaches fosters trust and long-term community connections, yielding lasting benefits.
The P4VE Summit underscored the need for and importance of fostering long-term partnerships and ensuring transparent communication to build community trust and engagement. These insights will guide future adult immunization efforts and promote equitable vaccine access.
NACCHO thanks the LHDs and Johns Hopkins for their contributions to the P4VE Summit’s success, enhancing the collective capacity to address vaccine disparities nationwide. The final report from the P4VE Summit is available here.
