Tuesday, July 16, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. MDT
Location: Interlocken A/B

When a COVID-19 vaccine first became available, it was clear that an effective vaccine communication and delivery strategy would need to be hyperlocal and aligned with the core values of communities, their material circumstances, and their unique cultures and histories. To address this challenge, a national rapid research-to-action coalition—CommuniVax—was launched. The effort brought social scientists, community advocates, and public health experts together into teams who worked to boost vaccine equity in Black and Hispanic/Latino communities in Alabama, California, Idaho, Maryland, and Virginia. This plenary will feature researcher-community partner pairs from three CommuniVax states. They will share stories of the bonds created through equitable partnership while also offering lessons regarding the ongoing impacts of their work. Ultimately, the panel will emphasize how—regardless of the disaster and the diversity of the community—we can work together to achieve authentic connection and respectful collaborations.