Abstract
Problem Significance
Vaccine rate disparities cause disease outbreaks which can be especially harmful to the very young, very old, pregnant, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Vaccine rate disparities occur by race, poverty, insurance status, and educational differences. Low-income communities experience many of these disparities.
Analysis and Objectives
The Social Ecological Model is used in this project to distinguish modifiable determinants that act as barriers to vaccine access. Most low-income community members barriers are identified at the individual level. Understanding the different factors helped to determine the type of interventions suitable for these low-income community members. The outcome of the program is to create an app to complete a vaccination series for youth 0-24 months.
Intervention (Solution) Proposal
The intervention proposal is a health-related community service strategy consisting of an app, VaxSpace, that provides a variety of information about vaccines, capacity to schedule vaccination appointments, reminders, and vaccine locations. The intervention is proposed to reduce the barriers commonly associated with low-income community members’ access to vaccines.
Recommendations and Conclusions
Vaccines are highly effective in preventing the spread of disease and should be readily available to everyone. Disproportions in vaccine access result in the re-emergence of diseases, some of which are fatal. Using the community as a resource, VaxSpace serves as a tool that increases awareness of vaccinations for low-income community members, improves access, and promotes self-efficacy.