Communicating About Efficacy and Effectiveness in the Context of Equity in Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution

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The public, especially members of communities subject to historical and current health inequities, must also be able to judge how equitably the vaccines are being distributed and have access to means of expressing their views on how distribution programs are designed and executed.

Transparent, clear communication about vaccine distribution is needed for community observers to judge how well equity has been achieved and to guide needed changes. Lack of such communication has eroded trustworthiness of the process in some Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color—who already face health inequities including greater exposure to infection and lack of access to quality health care.

Public officials can help secure warranted confidence and build trust in vaccine distribution programs by doing the following:

• 1 Using public engagement and effective communication to connect with their target audience and building or maintaining trust with them.
• 2 Engaging with their communities to proactively explain their vaccination program’s rationale and soliciting community feedback on distribution strategies.
• 3 Using effective communication, including focusing on audience concerns, using well-defined accessible terms, presenting evidence clearly, acknowledging social and historical context, and engaging trusted intermediaries.

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