Recipient Organization
EXTENSION FOUNDATION
1028 JACKSON RD
COVINGTON,KY 410111912
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
There are 25-30 million adults without health insurance and additional adults whose insurance does not offer COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to them. CDC's Bridge Access Program provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs. The EXCITE Bridge Access project fulfills two major objectives: 1) Increase awareness of eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine through the Bridge Access Program and 2) Increase awareness of when and how to get a free updated COVID-19 vaccine through Bridge Access for those 18 + uninsured and underinsured. Underinsured and uninsured individuals in rural areas will be the priority focus of the project.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The goal of EXCITE Bridge Access Partners is to reach adults eighteen years and older without insurance, improve vaccine confidence, and increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. In particular, as EXCITE has been a trusted messenger, particularly in rural communities, this project will focus on populations that are underinsured or uninsured, especially in rural communities.?The EXCITE Bridge Access project fulfills two major objectives:Increase awareness of eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine.Increase awareness of when and how to get a free updated COVID-19 vaccine through Bridge Access for those 18 + uninsured and underinsured.
Project Methods
To accomplish these objectives, Cooperative Extension will use multiple methods, which include but are not limited to:Community outreach education events.Marketing through social media, fact sheets, billboards, and videos.Partnering with Bridge providers to hold vaccine clinics to provide greater opportunities for vaccination.Developing culturally appropriate educational materials to reach audiences.The Cooperative Extension Bridge Access initiative will include a 4 prong approach:Funding will be provided to institutions with current EXCITE adult immunization program efforts. There currently are 34 LGUs (23-1862, 7-1890. 4-1994) with adult immunization education programming occurring. LGUs that select to participate can augment their immunization efforts with information about Bridge Access immunizations in ongoing immunization education programming.Collaboration with USDA NIFA Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to integrate Bridge access information into the EFNEP curriculum and programming efforts. This will provide a whole health approach. EFNEP is focused on families in poverty and, thus, are likely individuals and families that may not have health care coverage and would benefit from the Bridge immunizations. There are 76 LGUs (all 1862 and 1890 institutions) that host EFNEP, and the EFNEP paraprofessionals and professionals are known trusted messengers in these communities with strong healthcare partnerships.Provide targeted marketing approaches for 1994 institutions. Utilizing the EXCITE 1994 Engagement Coordinator, tribal colleges will be contacted and provided with a menu of marketing strategies for their community. The tribal colleges that choose to participate will identify the appropriate marketing strategy for their community. The 1994 Engagement Coordinator will develop culturally appropriate artwork for the marketing materials and then coordinate the delivery of the marketing strategy with each tribal college that chooses to participate. Marketing firms with experience working with tribal communities will be identified by the 1994 Engagement Coordinator. Contracts with the identified marketing firms will help to develop the messages for the 1994 institutions that choose to participate.Initiate a national marketing campaign with selected audio, visual, and social media options to be provided in the states that are not covered by the efforts in prongs one and two above. It is estimated that this will be about 12-15 states. This effort will assure that Bridge awareness education has been provided in all 50 states.EXCITE coaches will work with the current implementation teams to incorporate Bridge strategies into their efforts. An EFNEP EXCITE Associate Director will provide leadership to the EFNEP institutions. Monthly cohort sessions with professional development and technical assistance will be developed to share best practices and lessons learned as this group engages in this immunization awareness program. The 1994 Engagement Coordinator will provide overall leadership and coordination of the effort in the 1994 institutions that choose to become involved in a marketing campaign in their tribal communities.