Everyday many more people are becoming partially or fully vaccinated, but there are many others who have not been vaccinated, despite the demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death. Social workers, as professionals who provide services in a wide range of community settings, and who are trusted messengers, are in a unique position to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence, access, and uptake — particularly among populations with low vaccination rates and higher vulnerability to severe forms of infection.
Vaccine confidence is a complex construct that involves a variety of personal factors such as religious beliefs, political beliefs, perceptions of the government, perceptions of science, individual and/or community experiences with health providers and/or systems, language and/or literacy, and/or immigration/refugee status. As is seen in public health initiatives generally, there are also systemic and logistical factors such as transportation, childcare, and misinformation/disinformation. With their distinctive “person in the environment” framework, social workers possess highly relevant expertise in helping facilitate informed vaccine decision making in this context.
NASW and the NASW Foundation are partnering with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute (HBRT) at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded (CDC) initiative to support social workers and their clients in informed vaccine decision-making.
The Connect to End COVID-19 initiativeis supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3.3 million with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
NASW Vaccine Confidence Training for Social Workers – Complimentary self-study webinars and CEUs A centerpiece of the Connect to End COVID-19 initiative is providing accurate information to social workers about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccine safety and effectiveness, barriers to vaccination (e.g., mis/disinformation, logistical challenges, psychosocial and social care considerations, etc.), and the role of social workers in supporting clients in informed decision making regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
Key to the initiative are national, interactive trainings on the use of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and other evidence-based, culturally competent, public health and social work informed frameworks for helping clients process decisions regarding their health. A primary focus is on populations with low vaccination rates and greater vulnerability to severe forms of infection.
We don’t know how COVID-19 will affect each person.
Certain populations are at greater risk of severe illness and/or death. Among others, these include:
Adults 65+
People with underlying medical conditions
People with mental health disorders and/or substance use disorders
People who are unhoused
People who are African American, Hispanic or Indigenous
LGBTQ people
Socially and/or economically vulnerable people
Some people develop long-term COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., Long Haul COVID), which can result in prolonged disruptions in health and even long-term disability.
COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and/or death.
Vaccinated people are eight (8) times less likely to be infected and 25 times less likely to experience hospitalization or death.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Serious side effects that could cause long-term health problems are extremely unlikely following any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support approval or authorization of a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and vaccine safety experts quickly assess unexpected adverse events to guide vaccine recommendations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a wide array of information and resources that are beneficial to social workers who are working to enhance COVID-19 vaccine confidence and support clients in informed vaccine decision-making.
Post Covid-19 Care Centers Recovery from COVID-19 is posing a new set of challenges for patients and physicians alike. There is so much we don’t know with, with the lingering and persistent long COVID symptoms emerging as an ongoing battle. Post COVID Care Centers (PCCC) are opening across the county to address the issues of COVID-19 recovery – with comprehensive and coordinated treatment pathways. View available PCCCs in California – this list provides a growing network of PCCCs.
Healthy Davis Together– Working to prevent the spread of Covid-19 A joint project between the City of Davis and UC Davis with a goal to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The website offers Covid-19 updates, insights, data, testing information, and more.
California Department of Public Health – Vaccinate All 58 Counties Materials created to provide clear, factual and actionable information for Californians to help them stay safer from COVID-19, including resources that help Californians understand the importance of wearing a mask when it can protect themselves and their community.