10. Public Health in Action: Hartford CT’s Door-to-Door Vaccination Initiative

Following the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization for Covid-19 vaccinations in early 2021, vaccine hesitancy became one of the largest barriers to successful mass vaccination campaigns. This issue was especially prevalent in urban underserved communities, such as Hartford, CT. In response to this hesitancy, and fueled by a desire to protect and serve their community, members of Hartford’s COVID-19 task force, along with many dedicated volunteers, quite literally took to the streets, knocking on doors to administer Covid-19 vaccines, answer community members’ questions, and to simply have open and honest conversations. In this episode, UConn School of Medicine students Sara Schulwolf (M3) and Julia Levin (incoming M1 and 2021-2022 CT AHEC AmeriCorps Member) interviewing Liany Arroyo, MPH (Director of Hartford Health and Human Services), Alex Greenbaum, LPN (Member of Hartford’s COVID-19 task force), and Connor Merchant, MPA (Lead Community Health Worker for Hartford’s Hispanic Health Council) about all that went into the door to door vaccination campaign – the logistics, the causes of hesitancy, and the goals and definition of a “success.” Liany, Alex, and Conor share stories of the struggles and the triumphs, as well as provide invaluable advice for current and future health professionals about community engagement and health equity.