REDES: a peer network and mobile health (mHealth) enhanced CHW model to maximize COVID-19 vaccination among low income Latinos
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Summary
Our team has established a community coalition and identified effective interventions to reduce disparities among low-income limited English proficiency (LEP) Latino communities using qualitative, survey, and implementation science methodologies. We will test the efficacy of a combination intervention REDES (“Networks”) – a social network and mobile health (mHealth) enhanced community health worker (CHW) intervention - to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake among a cohort of Latinos and their networks in Maryland. Our multi-disciplinary research team brings together Latino health, social network, mHealth interventions, vaccine hesitancy expertise; a long-term history of community engagement with partner organizations in Maryland; and existing bilingual/bicultural CHW capacity and a rich local infrastructure for COVID-19 response. If this combination intervention demonstrates the efficacy, we will develop an implementation strategy toolkit, both in English and Spanish, for community partners and health departments interested in replicating the approach. This proposal primarily focuses on COVID-19 vaccination, but knowledge gained will be relevant to future vaccine equity initiatives, such as COVID-19 boosters (if needed) and seasonal influenza vaccination.