Identifying COVID-19 Vaccine Deserts and Ways to Reduce Them: A Digital Tool to Support Public Health Decision-Making
Abstract
A private–academic partnership built the Vaccine Equity Planner (VEP) to help decision-makers improve geographic access to COVID-19 vaccinations across the United States by identifying vaccine deserts and facilities that could fill those deserts. The VEP presented complex, updated data in an intuitive form during a rapidly changing pandemic situation. The persistence of vaccine deserts in every state as COVID-19 booster recommendations develop suggests that vaccine delivery can be improved. Underresourced public health systems benefit from tools providing real-time, accurate, actionable data. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(4):363–367. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307198)
Public health leaders can make better, more equitable decisions when they can clearly see and understand the problems. Being presented with potential solutions based on evidence further supports their decision-making and can aid in supporting health equity.
Public health leaders can make better, more equitable decisions when they can clearly see and understand the problems. Being presented with potential solutions based on evidence further supports their decision-making and can aid in supporting health equity.
Research Areas
