South Middlesex Times

Flu vaccination coverage has been consistently lower among Black Americans since 2010, with 43 percent of Black adults receiving the vaccine versus 51 percent of White adults in the 2022–23 season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Les Barta, director of simulation at Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, showed VEEC Ambassadors where to find the pulse on a human patient simulator used to teach pharmacy students and other healthcare professionals. To combat misinformation leading to vaccine hesitancy, seven Vaccine Equity Education Coalition (VEEC) Ambassadors, all high school members of the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, visited the Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy on August 9. They explored ideas to enhance vaccine equity and build community trust in preventative medicine. This partnership with Rutgers Health and the Vaccine Equity Education Coalition exemplifies a commitment to promoting health equity and providing educational resources.

During the visit, faculty, students, and staff from the pharmacy school engaged with VEEC ambassadors—ranging from sophomores to seniors—and discussed vaccines' importance in maintaining public health in partnership with local pharmacists.

The event featured an educational session and a simulation scenario in the Mannino Community Pharmacy simulation laboratory. Members practiced one-on-one vaccine counseling scenarios addressing common misconceptions, barriers, and vaccine hesitancy in their communities. Topics included vaccine effectiveness, mistrust of information, social media's role in spreading misinformation, and barriers like inability to pay for vaccines. This experience culminated a six-week summer program aimed at increasing youth-driven knowledge and awareness of vaccine equity.

“Building trust in vaccines starts with education and community engagement,” said Les Barta. “By partnering with organizations like VEEC and the Boys & Girls Club, we can reach a broader audience and foster a culture of health and prevention right in their communities as change agents.”

Held during National Immunization Awareness Month, the event allowed VEEC Ambassadors at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark to learn how best to communicate with family and friends using authentic communication—aligning internal experiences with external words—to build trust. This dialogue emphasized listening to community voices and tailoring public health strategies accordingly.

“Our collaboration with Rutgers Health and the Boys & Girls Club of Newark represents a critical step in empowering youth to become advocates for their communities,” said Haj Shirley at the Vaccine Equity Education Coalition. “As this coalition was spearheaded with support from a Rutgers-IDEA grant, VEEC is dedicated to addressing vaccine hesitancy, promoting equity, and engaging our beloved RU community along the way.”

“Our goal is to equip these young leaders with knowledge and skills needed for advocating vaccine equity,” said Nina Raps. “By partnering with VEEC and Boys & Girls Club of Newark we are fostering informed proactive health ambassadors marking significant steps toward achieving vaccine equity ensuring all communities have access life-saving immunizations.”