Making Vaccine Choices Easier for People Who Inject Drugs: A Community-Centered Approach Based on the Enhanced Five C's Model

Hardin, B., Graboyes, M., Kosty, D., & Cioffi, C. (2023). Vaccine decision making among people who inject drugs: Improving on the World Health Organization's 3C model of vaccine hesitancy. Preventive Medicine Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102341

In our endeavor to improve health outcomes for people who inject drugs in Oregon, we investigated the factors influencing their decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. By understanding these factors, we aspire to help healthcare professionals and policymakers design strategies that are more in tune with the needs and preferences of people who inject drugs.

What We Will Cover

Vaccination Rates among people who inject drugs in Lane County, Oregon
Introducing the 'Five C's' Model for a deeper understanding of vaccine hesitancy
Public Health Policies to create trust and increase vaccination rates
Community Engagement and Partnership to facilitate resource accessibility
Advocating for Health Equity to uphold the autonomy of people who inject drugs

Creating the 'Five C's' Model

Our research led to the development of a comprehensive ‘Five C’s’ model to understand the hesitancy surrounding vaccinations. This model, building upon the WHO's 3C model, introduces a multifaceted perspective into the decision-making process involving:

Confidence: Trust in vaccines and healthcare providers, noting a general distrust in government-led initiatives but a favorable view of community-based organizations such as the HIV Alliance.
Convenience: The ease of access to vaccination centers, highlighting the effectiveness of providing vaccine services at familiar community support centers.
Concern: Addressing immediate life necessities, such as housing, often superseded the urgency to get vaccinated.
Communication: Clear and sufficient information, with our study revealing that 44% cited a lack of information as a reason for their hesitancy.
Community: Understanding the impact of their decision on the broader community, with many considering the safety of their family and community in their vaccination decisions.

Implications for Public Health Policies

Utilizing the ‘Five C’s’ model, healthcare professionals can devise outreach programs that resonate well with the concerns and preferences of people who inject drugs. Collaborations with non-profit organizations could further enhance trust and increase vaccination rates, moving beyond government-led initiatives to more community-focused efforts.

Community Engagement and Partnership

Community engagement means working hand-in-hand with healthcare providers, organizations, and community members to foster trust and easy access to resources. We found platforms like the HIV Alliance to be trusted sources of information and they can play a vital role in encouraging more people to get vaccinated.

Advocating for Health Equity

The 5C model provides an ethical approach avoiding stigmatization and respects individual autonomy. To make sure everyone has a fair chance at staying healthy, it's vital that we treat all individuals with respect and understand their unique perspectives. Our research underlines the pressing need to challenge and change current programming to better suit communities they serve.

Conclusion

By incorporating insights from the ‘Five C’s’ model into public health strategies, we can create an environment that supports informed vaccination decisions. Our study offers practical tips for creating healthcare strategies that value every community member's input, leading the way to equal health opportunities and protecting communities in Oregon.

This research involved data collection between July and September 2021, encompassing 260 quantitative surveys and 41 qualitative interviews with individuals in Lane County, Oregon.