Faculty mentor/PI email address
lightfoot@rowan.edu
Keywords
Vaccine Hesitancy, Vaccine Uptake, Health Disparities, Community Health Workers, Public Health Communication, Socioeconomic Factors
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background:
In recent years, vaccination has become a highly politicized topic, contributing to decreased trust in medical professionals. Exposure to medical misinformation, distrust in government and research, and concerns about vaccine safety have all led to increased vaccine hesitancy and decreased vaccine uptake. These trends are more widely seen in low socioeconomic status (SES) and certain racial populations, posing a significant public health concern despite the effectiveness of vaccines.
Objective: This literature review aims to compare the effectiveness of community-based interventions led by clinicians and community health leaders with social media campaigns in increasing vaccine uptake among low-income populations in the United States. It also examines how factors such as trust, education, and socioeconomic status influence intervention outcomes.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to identify peer-reviewed U.S.-based studies published between 2015 and 2025. Ten studies evaluating interventions targeting vaccine hesitancy in low SES populations were included.
Results: Community-based interventions consistently improved vaccination outcomes, with increases in uptake ranging from approximately 5% to 21%. These approaches were most effective when participants trusted the messenger and were provided tailored communication. Social media campaigns showed mixed results. There was a modest improvement of around 4.7 % in vaccine attitudes, but evidence also showed a potential backfire effect, where there was a 28% decreased intent to vaccinate.
Conclusion: Direct, trust-based interventions by community members such as physicians and religious leaders are more effective than broad media campaigns in increasing vaccine uptake and addressing health disparities in low-socioeconomic populations.
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Population Health
Comparing Community-Based and Social Media Interventions to Improve Vaccine Uptake in Low-Income U.S. Populations
Background:
In recent years, vaccination has become a highly politicized topic, contributing to decreased trust in medical professionals. Exposure to medical misinformation, distrust in government and research, and concerns about vaccine safety have all led to increased vaccine hesitancy and decreased vaccine uptake. These trends are more widely seen in low socioeconomic status (SES) and certain racial populations, posing a significant public health concern despite the effectiveness of vaccines.
Objective: This literature review aims to compare the effectiveness of community-based interventions led by clinicians and community health leaders with social media campaigns in increasing vaccine uptake among low-income populations in the United States. It also examines how factors such as trust, education, and socioeconomic status influence intervention outcomes.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to identify peer-reviewed U.S.-based studies published between 2015 and 2025. Ten studies evaluating interventions targeting vaccine hesitancy in low SES populations were included.
Results: Community-based interventions consistently improved vaccination outcomes, with increases in uptake ranging from approximately 5% to 21%. These approaches were most effective when participants trusted the messenger and were provided tailored communication. Social media campaigns showed mixed results. There was a modest improvement of around 4.7 % in vaccine attitudes, but evidence also showed a potential backfire effect, where there was a 28% decreased intent to vaccinate.
Conclusion: Direct, trust-based interventions by community members such as physicians and religious leaders are more effective than broad media campaigns in increasing vaccine uptake and addressing health disparities in low-socioeconomic populations.