Supporting Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, Access, and Uptake

To support state, local, and private sector leaders in promoting the efficient and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the Duke-Margolis COVID-19 vaccination team has partnered with organizations such as the National Governors Association, the Commonwealth Fund, the National Academy for State Health Policy, the Association of Immunization Managers, and the COVID Collaborative to identify lessons learned from efforts to date, identify promising practices for improving vaccination access and uptake, and address emerging challenges. The team provides regular technical assistance and support to state leaders, convenes state and private sector leaders, develops practical resources for addressing emerging issues, and engages with critical partners. Key areas of focus include: 

Supporting State Leaders in Addressing Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, Access, and Uptake

To support state leaders in promoting the efficient and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccination team has produced publications for state leaders highlighting promising practices to maximize the efficiency of state COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts. The team also hosted three state leadership convenings attended by representatives of over twenty states to share lessons learned from early vaccine distribution experiences. Key publications include:

• Strategies to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in Medicaid Enrollees (December 2021)

• Webinar: Children and COVID-19: Strategies and Partnerships for Vaccination (November 2021)

• Ensuring Sustainability and Reach of COVID Vaccine Distribution (September 2021)

• Hyperlocal Covid-19 Testing and Vaccination Strategies to Reach Communities with Low Vaccine Uptake: Considerations for States and Localities (September 2021)

• Partnering with Tribal Nations for COVID-19 Vaccinations: A Case Study of Alaska (August 2021)

• State Strategies For Engaging And Leveraging Primary Care Providers As COVID-19 Vaccinators (June 2021)

• State Strategies for Addressing Barriers During the Early US COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign (May 2021)

• Addressing Early Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: State Strategies to Achieve Efficiency and Equity (May 2021)

• COVID-19 Vaccines and Emerging Viral Variants: Considerations for Governors (March 2021)

• Prioritizing Equity in COVID-19 Vaccinations: Promising Practices from States to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities (March 2021)

• Allocating COVID-19 Vaccines in Initial Phases of Distribution: Federal Recommendations and Considerations for States (December 2020)

• Supporting an Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines: Key Themes, Strategies, and Challenges Across State and Territorial COVID-19 Vaccination Plans (December 2020)

• COVID-19 Vaccines: Planning for Equitable Distribution and Access (October 2020)

Supporting School-Located Vaccination Sites 

Duke-Margolis released a series of resources for school leaders on how schools can serve as critical access points for students and families to receive COVID-19 vaccines based on input from school leaders, state and local public health officials, pediatricians, and other stakeholders in the immunization community. These resources were created through partnerships with the Association of Immunization Managers, The Rockefeller Foundation, COVID Collaborative, the Council of the Great City Schools, National Rural Education Association, Rural Schools Collaborative, and AASA: The School Superintendents Association.

• Priorities And Policy Levers To Support School-Located Vaccination (March 2022)
• FAQ for School Leaders: Successful Strategies for Vaccination in School Settings (November 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Under 12: How schools can prepare to be vaccination sites (November 2021)
• Communication Strategies for Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination in Schools (November 2021)
• Symposium on School-Located Vaccination Strategies to Increase Child and Adolescent Immunization Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic (September 2021)
• Innovative Strategies for Leveraging Schools as COVID-19 Vaccination Sites (August 2021)

Improving Immunization Infrastructure and Data Sharing

The Duke-Margolis COVID-19 vaccination team, in partnership with the National Governors Association, the COVID Collaborative, and the National Academy for State Health Policy, produced a series of issue briefs highlighting key priorities and considerations for strengthening immunization data infrastructure, modernizing immunization information systems, and exchanging immunization data with health care partners. 

• Modernizing Immunization Information Systems: Priorities and Considerations for Governors (September 2021)
• Improving Immunization Information Sharing to Support Targeted COVID-19 Vaccination Outreach (July 2021)

Building Private-Public Partnerships to Support COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, Access, and Uptake

In partnership with the COVID Collaborative, the Duke-Margolis COVID-19 vaccination team convened health systems, pharmacies, payers, employers, state leaders, and other public and private sector leaders for a series of virtual roundtables. Leaders discussed opportunities for the private sector to partner with policymakers to address key challenges in vaccine distribution. Key publications include:

• Webinar: Prioritizing Equity in COVID-19 Vaccinations: Perspectives from States and Public-Private Partnerships (May 2021)

• Building Public-Private Partnerships to Support Efficient and Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, Access, and Uptake (April 2021)