NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG POPULATIONS AT HIGH-RISKAND UNDERSERVED, INCLUDING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES - DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY HAS WORKED TO ADDRESS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINES BY ENGAGING WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS AGENCIES AND WITHIN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE UTILIZED DATA AND ANALYTICS TO IDENTIFY INEQUITIES RELATED TO MEDICAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS TO VACCINE ACCESS AMONG VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. THESE INEQUITIES WERE EXACERBATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHICH FURTHER ILLUMINATED THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND PHYSICAL HARDSHIPS FACED BY COMMUNITIES. THESE CHALLENGES NOT ONLY IMPACT SHORT-TERM HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS; BUT ALSO IMPACT OVERALL WELL-BEING ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES LONG-TERM. ADDRESSING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE WILL REQUIRE INTERVENTIONS THAT ENABLE SYSTEMIC CHANGES AND CREATES SUSTAINABILITY VIA NEW FINANCIA

Summary

NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG POPULATIONS AT HIGH-RISKAND UNDERSERVED, INCLUDING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES - DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY HAS WORKED TO ADDRESS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINES BY ENGAGING WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS AGENCIES AND WITHIN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE UTILIZED DATA AND ANALYTICS TO IDENTIFY INEQUITIES RELATED TO MEDICAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS TO VACCINE ACCESS AMONG VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. THESE INEQUITIES WERE EXACERBATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHICH FURTHER ILLUMINATED THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND PHYSICAL HARDSHIPS FACED BY COMMUNITIES. THESE CHALLENGES NOT ONLY IMPACT SHORT-TERM HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS; BUT ALSO IMPACT OVERALL WELL-BEING ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES LONG-TERM. ADDRESSING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE WILL REQUIRE INTERVENTIONS THAT ENABLE SYSTEMIC CHANGES AND CREATES SUSTAINABILITY VIA NEW FINANCIA