Vaccine Education Roundtable Series

In the second part of this interview featuring panelists Christopher da Costa, MD, PhD, FACP, FIDSA, Virginia D. Banks, MD, MBA, FIDSA, and Uzma Syed, DO, FIDSA, they discuss policies and strategies to address the disproportionate impact that COVID-19 has had on minoritized communities and share what health care providers can do to drive health equity in these communities.

Panelists Christopher da Costa, MD, PhD, FACP, FIDSA, Virginia D. Banks, MD, MBA, FIDSA, and Uzma Syed, DO, FIDSA, discuss data and how the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on minoritized and marginalized communities has evolved in the first part of this panel discussion led by Real-Time Learning Network Associate Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD.

Associate Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, discussed strategies for reaching vaccine hesitant patients with Raul Macias Gil, MD, Jasmine Marcelin, MD, FACP, FIDSA, and Beth Prusaczyk, PhD, MSW. In the final half of the roundtable, panelists share strategies for discussing vaccine concerns and the crucial role that engaging trusted messengers in local communities has in providing reliable information to build vaccine confidence.

Associate Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, discussed strategies for reaching vaccine hesitant patients with Raul Macias Gil, MD, Jasmine Marcelin, MD, FACP, FIDSA, and Beth Prusaczyk, PhD, MSW. In the first half of the roundtable, panelists discuss the challenges of addressing misinformation, reasons for historical mistrust among various populations and their experiences discussing vaccine concerns with patients.    

Associate Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, and Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, discuss the impact that COVID-19 has had on maternal mortality in different patient populations and the downstream effects of unequal access to health care. They also shared ways that health care providers can advocate for health equity.  

Associate Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, and panelists discussed the context and nuances of ensuring and communicating how equity was at the forefront of COVID-19 vaccine development now that eligibility has expanded to younger pediatric populations in the first part of this interview. The panelists also shared tips to dispel inaccurate information that may impact a caregiver’s decision to vaccinate their children. Featured panelists include: Rhea Boyd, MD, MPH, Rana Chakraborty, MD, MSc, FAAP, FRCPCH, D.Phil. (Oxon), FPIDS, FIDSA, Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, FPIDS, and William (Bill) Muller, MD, PhD, FIDSA. 

In the conclusion of this discussion, panelists share their perspectives on the importance of vaccinating children at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss ways to leverage the lessons learned to reduce the impact of future pandemics, particularly on marginalized and minoritized communities. Featured panelists include: Rhea Boyd, MD, MPH, Rana Chakraborty, MD, MSc, FAAP, FRCPCH, D.Phil. (Oxon), FPIDS, FIDSA, Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, FPIDS, William (Bill) Muller, MD, PhD, FIDSA.

Mati Hlatshawayo Davis, MD, MPH, moderated a discussion with Scott Hartman, MD, Dial Hewlett, MD, FIDSA, Ebony Hilton, MD, and Philip Zachariah, MD, on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations within the pediatric population. In this first part, the panel discusses the successes and challenges they have observed in providing COVID-19 vaccination access to younger populations, the side effects experienced by this group and ways to create more equitable access.

Mati Hlatshawayo Davis, MD, MPH, continues a discussion with Scott Hartman, MD, Dial Hewlett, MD, FIDSA, Ebony Hilton, MD, and Philip Zachariah, MD, on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations within the pediatric population. In this final part, the panel discusses how racial disparities have affected vaccine availability for pediatric populations, strategies to reach the unvaccinated and ways to health address disparities moving forward. 

In this follow-up panel discussion, Scott Hartman, MD, and Ebony Jade Hilton, MD, are interviewed by Associate Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, and share updates on how COVID vaccination is progressing in pediatric populations now that eligibility has expanded to 5- to 11-year-olds.

Panelists Scott Hartman, MD, and Ebony Jade Hilton, MD, share their concerns regarding potential health disparities in pediatric populations as COVID vaccine eligibility has expanded to 5- to 11-year-olds in this follow-up discussion moderated by Associate Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH.

Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, leads a brief case discussion focused on addressing vaccine concerns from a parent of young children, ages 3 and 7, with Scott Hartman, MD, and Ebony Jade Hilton, MD.

Carlos del Rio, MD, FIDSA, moderated a discussion with Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, and Daniel Lucey, MD, MPH, on the current state of global vaccine equity. In this final part, the panel discusses global breakthrough infections, strategies for emerging variants of concern and ways to get involved in vaccine equity.

Carlos del Rio, MD, FIDSA, moderated a discussion with Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, and Daniel Lucey, MD, MPH, on the current state of global vaccine equity. In this second part, the panel discusses global vaccine manufacturing and coordination, how virus variants impact global vaccinations and strategies for moving toward global vaccine equity. 

Carlos del Rio, MD, FIDSA, moderated a discussion with Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, and Daniel Lucey, MD, MPH, on the current state of global vaccine equity. In this first part, the panel discusses what global vaccine equity means, the current vaccines available globally and who is responsible for achieving vaccine equity for all.  

Associate Medical Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, interviewed Richard Watkins, MD, medical director for the North Central Territory – OH/KY market of Aetna/CVS, on the role that pharmacies play in equitable vaccine distribution. Dr. Watkins shares the successes and challenges that pharmacies have faced and what CVS/Aetna is doing to help. 

Associate Medical Editor Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, interviewed White House Vaccinations Coordinator Bechara Choucair, MD, on developing a national vaccination strategy, addressing challenges and barriers involved in getting the vaccine, the role of trusted messengers and community-based organizations in inspiring vaccine confidence, funding available through the American Rescue Plan and the Administration’s commitment to health equity.

Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD/MPH, FIDSA, moderated a dynamic dialogue with Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, and Linda Brown-Washington, PhD, EJD, NP-C, MSN, CNS, LHCRM, FAANP, discussing how equity in vaccine distribution was planned for and implemented at a national and local level. This discussion also focuses on developing equitable approaches and solutions to understand and address barriers to access, including leveraging community-based partnerships and mobile vaccination clinics.  

Moderator Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH Panelists Maximo Brito, MD, MPH, Angélica Kottkamp, MD, and Stephen Perez, PhD, RN, discuss the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, recruiting a diverse mix of individuals for clinical trials and ways to respond to questions about vaccines.

In the first panel discussion, moderated by Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, panelists Maximo Brito, MD, MPH, Angélica Kottkamp, MD, and Stephen Perez, PhD, RN, explain the COVID-19 vaccine development process, including how safety concerns were addressed. 

Panelists Angélica Kottkamp, MD, and Maximo Brito, MD, MPH, discuss ways to explain the history of mRNA vaccines and how they work to patients.

This panel discussion highlights advice for building a trusting patient-provider relationship and ways to address common COVID-19 myths.