Community Health Worker Influence on Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake in New York City, 2021‒2022

Bibliographic Data

ID11032835
AuthorsMaureen Miller (0000-0003-4467-5491, At the time of the study, Maureen Miller, Brian G. Weiss, Zoe M. Sakas, Korin E. Parrella, Farha Islam, and Julian L. Watkins were with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.), Brian G Weiss (0009-0004-8188-0595, At the time of the study, Maureen Miller, Brian G. Weiss, Zoe M. Sakas, Korin E. Parrella, Farha Islam, and Julian L. Watkins were with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.), Zoe M Sakas (At the time of the study, Maureen Miller, Brian G. Weiss, Zoe M. Sakas, Korin E. Parrella, Farha Islam, and Julian L. Watkins were with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.), Zoë Sakas (0000-0003-4979-8757, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Korin Parrella (0009-0005-3859-6713, At the time of the study, Maureen Miller, Brian G. Weiss, Zoe M. Sakas, Korin E. Parrella, Farha Islam, and Julian L. Watkins were with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.), Korin E Parrella (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Farha Islam (At the time of the study, Maureen Miller, Brian G. Weiss, Zoe M. Sakas, Korin E. Parrella, Farha Islam, and Julian L. Watkins were with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.), Julian L Watkins (At the time of the study, Maureen Miller, Brian G. Weiss, Zoe M. Sakas, Korin E. Parrella, Farha Islam, and Julian L. Watkins were with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.), the COVID-19 Equity Program Team
Year2025
Volume115
Issue6
Pages910-919
Publication date2025-06-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2025.308039
PMID40146972
OpenAlexW4408905002
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited19

Objectives. To evaluate a community health worker (CHW) intervention to decrease COVID-19 vaccine uptake disparities in historically disinvested communities of color. Methods. The New York City Health Department partnered with community-based organizations that served 75 zip code‒defined communities targeted for rapid response intervention. Analyses used community demographic and COVID-19 vaccine uptake data. Linear regression models evaluated high and low CHW outreach on community vaccine uptake between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Results. Of 75 communities, 65 (85%) experienced high CHW outreach, which prioritized trauma-informed engagement with 4.2 million Black and Latino community residents. On average, residents were 70% Black and Latino. Significant differences existed between high and low outreach communities for baseline community COVID-19 vaccine uptake (44% vs 59%; P Conclusions. This research expands the body of evidence documenting the essential role played by CHWs to change population health behaviors. Public Health Implications. Response readiness during public health crises relies on pre-established trust. When this is lacking, CHW outreach can bridge the gap. ( Am J Public Health. 2025;115(6):910–919. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308039 )

Community engagement · Community health · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Family medicine · Health equity · Intervention (counseling) · Outreach · Political science · Population · Public health · Public relations · Medicine · Nursing · Public Health Policies and Education · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research · Gerontology

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