San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) is pleased to share the results of polling and focus groups conducted by RBI Strategies and Research to gather information from unvaccinated residents living in Southwest Colorado and across the Western Slope. The research project was fully funded by a grant awarded to SJBPH by the federal Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Other SJBPH activities currently funded by the grant include extensive community outreach and education to increase vaccine uptake in La Plata and Archuleta counties.
Local public health departments in rural areas have operated with a scarcity of research gathered directly from their communities throughout the pandemic. Rural communities also face unique vaccine equity issues and barriers related to technology, access to information, transportation, language barriers, hesitancy, and other factors. Despite these challenges, vaccination rates have increased over the course of 2021, although the research indicates a challenging road lies ahead. Currently, about 7 in 10 Coloradans have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. While local public health departments and the State continue what has become a marathon effort toward reaching and educating individuals who remain unvaccinated, SJBPH supports layered precautions to reduce transmission during the current surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. These approaches include widespread testing, 100% contact tracing, vaccination, monoclonal antibody treatments, a statewide mask order, and other proven strategies.
Between October 19 and 21, RBI Strategies and Research gathered surveys from 501 unvaccinated residents across the Western Slope and Southwest Colorado generating a poll with a 4.4% margin of error. The goal of the project was to learn more about the likelihood of uptake among unvaccinated residents, their reasons for not receiving COVID-19 vaccination, and the top performing messages for educating and increasing vaccine uptake in this population. A summary of the findings is available here. Crosstabs are available upon request.
Among the unvaccinated sample, 65% of respondents indicated they would “definitely not” receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the future, leaving 35% of the sample undecided at the time of the poll. Among the more persuadable group, several approaches stood out for their strong potential to increase vaccine uptake:
- Using messages that inform the unvaccinated about how the COVID-19 vaccines were developed and approved so quickly
- Providing fact-based information about the potential long-term negative health impacts of contracting COVID-19, in contrast with no documented long-term side effects of vaccination
- Informing unvaccinated residents that even if they’ve had COVID-19 once, they can catch the virus again and that the vaccine provides immunity that reduces the likelihood of that outcome
- The enactment of vaccine mandates for travel, work, and other activities as a means to increase vaccine uptake
- Using messaging that highlights the lifesaving benefits of vaccination for protecting their vulnerable family members and friends
- Personal doctors were identified as the most trusted messengers regarding COVID-19 vaccination, followed by other health care professionals and scientists
“We care deeply about the health and safety of Archuleta and La Plata counties and educating residents so they can make an informed decision to best protect their health and the health of their loved ones. We are fortunate to be able to share this research with our public health partners across the Western Slope and Southwest Colorado thanks to a grant from the federal government,” said Liane Jollon, Executive Director of SJBPH. “As we’re working to protect school aged children and provide access to boosters for adults, our work continues conducting outreach and education with individuals who remain unvaccinated, especially in underserved communities. This research helps inform that work and the path forward in our ongoing efforts to address vaccine hesitancy and protect families in our community. Our team is committed to educating all residents, with the understanding that it may take multiple conversations and more time to reach some deeply hesitant folks.”
For COVID-19 data, testing locations, and more information about vaccines visit the SJBPH website.
Chandler Griffin is Communications Director for San Juan Basin Public Health District. SJBPH is a local public health agency, governed by a seven-member local Board of Health, serving all residents of La Plata and Archuleta counties.