P3C140: Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in Six Month to Five Year Olds in Rural and Underserved Populations

Purpose/Objectives: COVID-19 vaccinations are safe, well studied, and provide protection from complications occurring with COVID-19 infection. Children aged 6 months through 4 years represent the least vaccinated population, despite vaccines being available since June 2022. This age group also represents the greatest proportion of hospitalizations due to COVID-19.Vaccination rates are lowest in rural areas where there is more skepticism of the vaccine. In Virginia, 18% of children aged 6 months to 5 years old have received one COVID-19 vaccine, with most living in just five of VA’s 134 counties. None of those are rural or underserved. Provider hesitancy is a contributor to this deficit, as is lack of access. This project will improve COVID-19 vaccination rates among children by engaging pediatric healthcare providers in rural areas in a quality improvement project that involves provider education and a plan to make evidence-informed changes in how COVID-19 vaccines are recommended to parents and provided to children.

Design/Methods: Up to ten pediatric practices will be recruited from rural VA counties to participate in this project. Staff will view a webinar supported by a National AAP COVID-19 Initiative Grant that reviews the latest science regarding COVID-19 disease and vaccines in young children. The webinar will dispel myths about the vaccines and teach motivational interviewing techniques to equip participating providers to increase vaccine confidence among families. Following the webinar, participating providers will have six weeks to create a plan to begin offering COVID-19 vaccines or take steps to increase acceptance rates. Providers will conduct PDSA cycles and participate in a follow up session to share the data collected and how they will sustain the change(s) in their clinic.

Results: The results of this project are pending. The webinar is scheduled for May 2023 and provider recruitment is currently taking place. We predict this project will result in positive change in COVID-19 vaccination rates in participating practices.

Conclusion/Discussion: In rural and underserved areas, healthcare providers are respected and trusted by their patients. Gaps in access are common in rural areas nationwide, and many counties in Virginia have no providers giving the COVID-19 vaccine. By educating hesitant providers about COVID-19 vaccines for young children, they can educate their patients and parents on the importance of vaccination. Utilizing motivational interviewing and position in the community, healthcare providers can increase COVID-19 vaccinations, thus keeping the youngest of our population protected from COVID-19.