Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

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VB Health Department hosting COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Sept. 7 – WAVY.com

September 3, 2022

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health will host a free COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, September 7.

According to a press release, the clinic will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the New Light Full Gospel Baptist Church, located at 5549 Indian River Road.

All vaccines and boosters will be available at the clinic. Those who are between the ages of 5 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

A second booster has now been recommended for certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine at least four months ago.

Appointments for the clinic are encouraged, however walk-ins will be accepted.

Visit the links below to schedule your appointment time:

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccines for COVID-19 page.

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VB Health Department hosting COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Sept. 7 - WAVY.com

Cruise Lines That Don’t Require a COVID-19 Vaccination – Cruise Fever

September 3, 2022

Cruise lines have begun to get rid of their COVID-19 vaccine requirement that they have mandated over the past 15 months since cruises have restarted.

MSC Cruises As of September 1, 2022, MSC Cruises no longer requires U.S. citizens to be vaccinated. MSC currently offers cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from Florida. View Best Prices on MSC

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line was the first major cruise line to announce the elimination of a COVID-19 vaccine requirement. This new policy goes into effect today, September 3, 2022. View Best Prices on NCL

Royal Caribbean Starting on September 5, 2022, guests who are not vaccinated will be able to sail on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, the worlds largest cruise line. View Best Prices on Royal Caribbean

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Carnival Cruise Line For cruises that depart on or after September 6, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line will allow all guests to once again sail on their Fun Ships. View Best Prices on Carnival

Princess Cruises Effective for cruises that depart from the U.S., United Kingdom, and Europe on or after September 6, 2022, vaccination will no longer be required. View Best Prices on Princess

Celebrity Cruises Starting on Monday, September 5, 2022, all guests will be able to sail on Celebrity cruise ships, even if not vaccinated. View Best Prices on Celebrity

Holland America Line Starting on September 6, 2022, travelers can cruise on Holland America cruise ships regardless of vaccination status. View Best Prices on Holland America

Margaritaville at Sea The cruise line that offers two night cruises to the Bahamas will eliminate the vaccine requirement on September 5, 2022.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Starting today, September 3, 2022, Regent has opened up their sailings to everyone. View Best Prices on Regent

Oceania Cruises Starting today, September 3, 2022, Oceania has opened up their sailings to everyone. View Best Prices on Oceania

Virgin Voyages Virgin Voyages, the adults only cruise line sailing from Miami, allows 10% of their guests to sail unvaccinated. View Best Prices on Virgin

Azamara Azamara will remove their vaccine requirement on December 1, 2022. View Best Prices on Azamara

SeaDream Yacht Club SeaDream has eliminated the vaccine requirement on all sailings effective August 30, 2022.

Seabourn Starting with sailings that depart on or after September 6, 2022, guests will no longer be required to be vaccinated.

To see the complete health protocols for each cruise line, visit the cruise lines website or contact your local travel professional.

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Cruise Lines That Don't Require a COVID-19 Vaccination - Cruise Fever

COVID-19 Daily Update 9-2-2022 – West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

September 3, 2022

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of September 2, 2022, there are currently 3,362 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There have been three deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 7,294 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 97-year old female from Cabell County, a 57-year old male from McDowell County, and a 91-year old female from Hancock County.

Our thoughts are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. I encourage West Virginians to take protective measures for themselves and their families by receiving a COVID vaccine and booster.

CURRENT ACTIVE CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (33), Berkeley (236), Boone (85), Braxton (12), Brooke (35), Cabell (141), Calhoun (15), Clay (13), Doddridge (10), Fayette (113), Gilmer (17), Grant (28), Greenbrier (78), Hampshire (32), Hancock (34), Hardy (82), Harrison (125), Jackson (29), Jefferson (97), Kanawha (245), Lewis (36), Lincoln (57), Logan (73), Marion (107), Marshall (49), Mason (71), McDowell (37), Mercer (185), Mineral (75), Mingo (30), Monongalia (149), Monroe (44), Morgan (12), Nicholas (61), Ohio (55), Pendleton (18), Pleasants (13), Pocahontas (9), Preston (27), Putnam (87), Raleigh (136), Randolph (54), Ritchie (9), Roane (35), Summers (10), Taylor (17), Tucker (15), Tyler (22), Upshur (88), Wayne (50), Webster (10), Wetzel (52), Wirt (6), Wood (162), Wyoming (42). To find the cumulative cases per county, please visit coronavirus.wv.gov and look on the Cumulative Summary tab which is sortable by county.

West Virginians ages 6 months and older are recommended to get vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19. Those 5 years and older should receive a booster shot when due. Second booster shots for those age 50 and over who are 4 months or greater from their first booster are recommended, as well as for younger individuals over 12 years old with serious and chronic health conditions that lead to being considered moderately to severely immunocompromised.

Visit the WV COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator, a free, online tool that helps individuals figure out when they may be due for a COVID-19 shot, making it easier to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, or to find a vaccine site near you, visit vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965.

To locate COVID-19 testing near you, please visit https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx.

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COVID-19 Daily Update 9-2-2022 - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Over 1,000 Reports of Adverse Events After COVID-19 Vaccination in Toddlers, Babies – The Epoch Times

September 3, 2022

Over 1,000 reports of adverse events have been lodged with U.S. authorities following COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5 and younger.

As of Aug. 21, 998 non-serious reports have been entered into theVaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for children 4 or younger who received a Pfizer vaccine and children 5 or younger who received a Moderna vaccine, Dr. TomShimabukuro said on Sept. 1.

Shimabukuro is a researcher with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which runs VAERS with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Most of the adverse event reports have been for outcomes designated non-serious, or events that did not include death, a life-threatening illness, hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, permanent disability, congenital anomaly, or birth defect.

Of the 1,017 total reported events, 19 were designated serious, with 9 for children who received a Moderna vaccine and 10 for children who received a Pfizer vaccine.

The serious events were not detailed.

Those details should not have been left out of the information released to ACIP and the public,Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, told The Epoch Times in an email.

Shimabukuro was presenting the data (pdf) to theAdvisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the CDC on vaccine guidance.

The most commonly reported events after receipt of Pfizers vaccine were errors in dosing, such as an incorrect dose being administered. Fever, rash, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea were also commonly reported. The most commonly reported events after receipt of Modernas vaccine were fever, rash, vomiting, and hives.

The number of reports represented 0.06 percent of the doses administered to children aged 5 or younger, who only became eligible for a vaccine in mid-June.

Shimabukuro said the data from VAERS and other systems did not reveal any new safety concerns.

Anybody can make reports to VAERS, but making a false report subjects a person to a criminal charge. Health care professionals are required to report adverse events for the vaccines under emergency use authorization. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are under emergency use authorization for young children.

However, research has found that the number of reports submitted to VAERS is an undercount of the actual number of adverse events.

Even though not every adverse event reported to VAERS is causally related to vaccination, it is also true that one CDC funded study estimated that less than one percent of vaccine adverse events that occur are reported to VAERS, Fisher said.

No cases of heart inflammation have been reported following COVID-19 vaccination in the young children.

Myocarditis and pericarditis, forms of heart inflammation, were also not detected in the original clinical trials. Studies have since conclusively linked them to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

The reported rates of myocarditis after dose 2 of a primary series are elevated for males aged 5 to 49 and for females aged 12 to 29. The highest reported rate is 78.7 per million second doses administered, for males between 16 and 17 years old.

The reported rates remain elevated for males 12 to 29 after a booster dose, Shimabukuro said. The rates do not remain elevated for females of any age after a booster dose, according to the VAERS data.

The CDC has verified 131 of themyocarditis case reports among people aged 5 and up after booster shots.

Data from another surveillance system run by the CDC, the Vaccine Safety Datalink, showed a safety signal for a first booster for myocarditis and pericarditis after a first booster. The Pfizer vaccine caused 61.7 excess heart inflammation events for males aged 12 to 15 and 189 excess events for males aged 16 and 17. The vaccines caused 30.9 excess events for males aged 18 to 39.

The rates were higher for both males and females aged 16 and 17 after a booster of Pfizers shot, though the higher rates were not statistically significant because of the low number of events, Shimabukuro said.

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Over 1,000 Reports of Adverse Events After COVID-19 Vaccination in Toddlers, Babies - The Epoch Times

TUCKER CARLSON: Democrats are trying to shift blame about the COVID-19 vaccine to Trump – Fox News

August 26, 2022

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Well, they finally got Big Orange. You were starting to think it could never happen. How could it happen? Once you accused a man of racism, fascism, sexism, embezzlement, perjury, sex crimes, mental illness, treason (The last of which, by the way, is a death penalty offense, let us remind you) and then you impeach him twice on related grounds and after that, you send the FBI to his home to seize a handwritten welcome letter from Barack Obama, which turns out to be a state secret possession of which is a serious felony.

After you do all of that and they have, you wouldn't think there'd be a lot left to accuse the guy of. You'd think they'd have run out of sins, but no, it turns out there's one left and it's the big one.

The crime of all crimes, an offense so diabolical, so morally repugnant, so contrary to the laws of God andnature that once revealed to the public, Donald Trump is done forever. He will never again darken the door of American democracy. He will slink back in shame to his lair off the fifth teeto prepare for his well-deserved punishment. We won't see him again until sentencing. That's how bad this is. What, ladies and gentlemen, did Donald Trump do? We can now tell you. Donald Trump created the COVID vaccine. He did that himself and on purpose, with malice aforethought.

The vaccine is Donald Trump's doing. We learned that this week from Democrats in Congress. They announced that shocking news. An investigation by the Coronavirus Subcommittee found, as Politico put it, that the Trump administration pressured the Food and Drug Administration to authorize the first COVID-19 vaccines on an accelerated timeline. Following this?

AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VACCINE USE HALTED IN VIETNAM AFTER PIG DEATHS

President Donald Trump, accompanied by Ivanka Trump, speaks before signing the National Security Presidential Memorandum to Launch the "Women's Global Development and Prosperity" Initiative (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

An accelerated timeline. They didn't even fully test the stuff. That's not science. Donald Trump doesn't do science. So, they just handed this stuff out to people, citizens, recklessly. In the words of South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, Donald Trump "assaulted" our nation's public health institutions with this poison, the so-called vaccine, and in doing so "undermined our nation's coronavirus response." That's what Trump did and here's the worst part. No one knew Trump was doing it.

They trusted Donald Trump. He was the president of the United States. People believed him when he said the vaccine worked, especially older people. They knew they were at risk and they wanted to believe that a shot would keep them safe. So, they took Donald Trump's word and then they took the vax, and then a lot of them got covered anyway. It's horrifying when you think about it. Here is one of Donald Trump's elderly victims.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Hey, folks, guess you heard this morning I tested positive for COVID, but have been double vaccinated, double boosted, symptoms are mild, and I really appreciate your inquires and concerns and I'm doing well. We're getting a lot of work done and I continue to get it done.

WHITE HOUSE REPORTER BLOWS UP AT KARINE JEAN-PIERRE FOR NOT TAKING QUESTIONS

Look at that man. Donald Trump's vaccine did that to him. Four shots, a human pincushion, now a desiccated husk. Before he took Donald Trump's vaccine, that man was spry, filled with vigor, and then famous for his mental acuity. Look at him now and in case you think, "Oh, maybe we're overstating the case. I mean, this is a bad video," we're going to take you now to a live shot of that same man to give you some sense of the long-term effects of Donald Trump's vaccine. Here he is speaking at this moment in the state of Maryland. Watch this.

BIDEN: Social Security into the hands of Ted Cruz and Marjorie Taylor Greene. I mean it, but it's not just Social Security. Senator Scott wants everything in the federal budget voted on de novo. Every five years it goes out of existence. That includes Medicare, veterans benefits and everything else. Then along comes Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

Marjorie Taylor Greene controls Social Security? It doesn't make sense. The compassionate person in you feels for that man because you know what happened to him. He took Donald Trump's vaccine, which Democrats alerted us this week, wasn't properly tested. Now, your first reaction would be, "Wait a second, this seems like a revision of what I saw personally. Wasn't it Joe Biden who promoted the vaccine, who made it mandatory? Wasn't Joe Biden in charge when it became obvious the vaccine didn't work? And didn't Joe Biden's media tell us to get the shot months after Donald Trump left office?" You may remember that possibly because you remember clips like this.This is from July of last year.

WHY MONKEYPOX IS MAKING SOME COLLEGE KIDS NERVOUS RIGHT NOW

JOE SCARBOROUGH, MSNBC: If you're a schoolteacher, if you're a nurse, if you're a cop, you need to get vaccinated and if you don't, you need to look for another job.

Yeah, take the vax or you're fired. In retrospect, it's pretty obvious they were carrying water for Donald Trump in that video. Now, if you're still not convinced, you're probably a cynical person, probably have concluded the Democrats are panicked about being blamed for the single greatest public health disaster in history and they're trying to shift the blame to Donald Trump before the full truth about the vaccine comes out and it is coming out and the midterms are on the way. You may have concluded that, but we're not cynical on this show. In fact, we're relieved .

Now that Donald Trump is responsible for the vaccine, we can finally talk about the vaccine. Untilnow, we haven't been able to. Until now, it's been like living in a John Cheever story where the entire country is an emotionally repressed waspfamily. It's 1952 and Darien and Dad has just passed out drunk at the dinner table, but nobody's allowed to mention it. We all have to pretend it's not happening. "Dad's fine. Be quiet." Over time, that level of denial is very hard to sustain. It makes you crazy, but thank God it's over now.

MARC SIEGEL ON WHAT THE MEDIA GETS RIGHT AND WRONG ABOUT ANTHONY FAUCI

Now that we can blame Donald Trump for the vaccine, we can finally tell the truth about the vaccine without being fired or attacked or thrown off the Internet. We really should have thought of this earlier because it feels good, the freedom of this. So, let's take a moment to talk about Donald Trump's vaccine and why it seems to be, among other things, dramatically raising death rates among young people.

According to data from New Zealand, the government there, for example, children who were vaccinated between the ages of 10 and 19, were more likely (not less likely) more likely to die within a month of vaccination than those who didn't take the vaccine in the same age group and it's not just the New Zealand government that has found this. This summer, a Dutch researcher calledAndr Redertpublished a paper entitled "COVID-19 Vaccinations and all-cause mortality."

The research analyzed hundreds of cities and towns. What did it find? "We could not observe a mortality reducing effect of vaccination in Dutch municipalities after vaccination booster campaigns. We did find a 4-sigma significant mortality enhancing effect during the two periods of high unexplained excess mortality."

WHITE HOUSE DODGES DIRECT QUESTIONS ON WHO WILL PAY FOR MASSIVE STUDENT LOAN HANDOUT

Oh, so the data suggests, don't prove, but suggests the vaccine may be killing people. Unexplained mortality is also on the rise in many other countriesAustralia, England, Wales. So why is Donald Trump's vaccine doing all of this in other countries? Well, we can't be sure, but as Alex Berenson reported on his Substack recently, the Canadian government is seeing a similar problem at huge scale.

As of this summer, people who took Donald Trump's vaccine in the Canadian province of Manitoba are roughly 50% more likely than the unvaccinated to be hospitalized or die from COVID. Again, to pause, how bad is Donald Trump's vaccine? So bad that people who take it are more likely to die of COVID. Hmm. Now we have data from more Canadian provinces, but they seem to be hiding it now. On July 28, the province of British Columbia announced it would stop reporting the number of deaths that occurred in people who have taken the COVID booster. Wow. Why is that? Don't ask. You're not allowed to. Oh, we are now because it's a Trump crime.

The charts are also missing somehow from the Internet archive, which is widely known, of course, as a front for Russian operatives working on behalf of who? Donald Trump, but we do have the most recent available data. What do those show? Well, they show that 70% of all deaths in that province occurred in people who are boosted, even though boosted individuals make up just half the province's population. Do the math on that for a minute.

CNN ANALYST PRAISES BIDEN'S STUDENT DEBT HANDOUTS: A 'GOLDILOCKS SWEET SPOT' OF 'GOOD ECONOMIC POLICY'

Well, your first reaction might be, "Oh, well, vaccinated and boosted people tend to be older, so of course, they're dying at a greater rate. It has nothing to do with the shot," but then you look deeper. You read, for example, the Lancet article entitled "Risk of Infection, Hospitalization and Death up to nine months after a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine" and that piece shows that people over the age of 80 have worse outcomes and by worse, we mean more hospitalizations, more deaths when they're vaccinated than when they are unvaccinated.

So, it turns out when Donald Trump told you, as he did hundreds of times, certainly you must remember this, that this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated, it turned out to be exactly the opposite and we're seeing this in a lot of different places, in a lot of different data sets. In fact, as Kenji Yamamoto wrote in the Journal of Virology, "The Lancet study showed that immune function among vaccinated individuals eight months after the administration of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine was lower than that among unvaccinated individuals."

That sounds like it's hurting people's immune system in a profound way. As the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology put it after an independent study, "Vaccination introduces a profound impairment in type one interferon signaling which has diverse adverse consequences to human health." That doesn't sound good. What consequences could they be talking about?

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower, late Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in New York. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS STAND TO BENEFIT FROM BIDEN STUDENT DEBT HANDOUT: WATCHDOG GROUP

Well, in July, the German government put out a Tweet stating that at least one out of every 5,000 COVID shots causes "serious side effects." One in 5,000. Really? This is a shot that was taken by hundreds of millions of people, including in this country. What effects are theyactually talking about? Well, those would include decreased sperm counts. The journal Andrology reported in June that there was a 22% average drop in total sperm count in samples taken 3 to 5 months after the second Pfizer dose of the vaccine, Donald Trump's vax.

On top of that, there is heart inflammation, myocarditis, which is now suddenly famous in neighborhoods across the country because everyone seems to know someone else's son who has it. In December of last year, researchers at Oxford found that, "myocarditis risk was increased during 1 to 28 days following a third dose of the vaccine. Associations were strongest in males younger than 40 years for all vaccine types," but you knew that because you're seeing it among people you know and no one's talking about it.

We're not allowed to talk about it, but now we can because Trump did it. Researchers in Israel, meanwhile, found that vaccination increased the 42-day risk of myocarditis by a factor of three. It's a very serious heart condition, not a small finding. Now, you may have also noticed the rise in young athletes dying of heart attacks in recent months, something you're not allowed to notice, but you probably can't help yourself.

MILWAUKEE PARENTS LASH OUT AGAINST MASK MANDATE REVIVAL: 'A BUNCH OF BULLIES AND COWARDS'

For example, a 37-year-old cycling champion in Scotland calledRab Wardelljust died of a heart attack two days after winning a national mountain biking championship. Can't say he was out of shape. Maybe it wasn't vax related. Have you seen that a lot before? Hmm and then there are those five doctors you may have read about in Toronto who died in the same month in July. Now, of that group of five dead physicians, there was a 27-year-old triathlete who died after a swimming competition and a 50-year-old Olympian who died after a run. So, these are not people who are sitting on the couch smoking weed and eating Doritos.

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Now, we can't know why all of this happened, but the point is we're allowed to notice now, and that's significant, especially since some places are still forcing children to take the vaccine and that would include most colleges in the United States. They just announced that boosters are mandatory. In the District of Columbia, which is falling apart, the mayor has decided, she declared this today, that unvaccinated students will not be allowed in school.

They won't even get virtual learning unless they take a vaccine, Donald Trump's vaccine, that appears to be hurting a lot of people, but unless they take it, they will get no education whatsoever. Hmm. Who knew that Muriel Bowser, the resolutely partisan Democrat who runs Washington, D.C., was actually working for Donald Trump, but she appears to be. At least you know who to blame.

Tucker Carlson currently serves as the host of FOX News Channels (FNC) Tucker Carlson Tonight (weekdays 8PM/ET). He joined the network in 2009 as a contributor.

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TUCKER CARLSON: Democrats are trying to shift blame about the COVID-19 vaccine to Trump - Fox News

Explainer: Updated COVID-19 vaccines are coming in the U.S., should you get one? – Reuters

August 26, 2022

Syringes ready to be administered to residents who are over 50 years old and immunocompromised and are eligible to receive their second booster shots of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines are seen in Waterford, Michigan, U.S., April 8, 2022. REUTERS/Emily Elconin

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WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The United States plans to roll out an updated COVID-19 booster vaccine to include Omicron subvariants of the coronavirus. Regulators are reviewing the shots and could give the go-ahead as soon as next week.

Here is what you need to know:

Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) with partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) and Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) completed applications this week to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19 vaccine boosters retooled to target versions of the Omicron variant of the virus.

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These so-called bivalent vaccines include both the currently dominant BA.4/BA.5 Omicron subvariants and the original version of the virus.

The Pfizer vaccine would be for people aged 12 and older, while Moderna's would be for those 18 and older.

The FDA will likely decide on the vaccine soon. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has scheduled a two-day meeting of its expert advisers beginning Sept. 1, a step that typically follows FDA authorization.

The United States has ordered 175 million doses from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, which are expected to be ready to ship in September.

Government health officials say the boosters are needed because immunity wanes over time and the vaccines help prevent serious disease and death.

Several experts said they do not expect the updated vaccines to be game changing and urged public health officials not to overstate their benefits.

"What the administration is asking us to do is to accept this bivalent vaccine is significantly better than the current ancestral strain vaccine. It would be nice if there were data to support that," said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease expert at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the FDA's vaccine advisory panel.

"Right now, what they're asking you to do is trust them, and to trust them with mouse data, and I think that's a lot to ask."

Currently, a fourth shot, or second booster, is restricted largely to people over 50 and those who are immunocompromised or at high risk. The government plans to open the Omicron boosters to people from age 12, according to a CDC document.

People in these same risk groups are most likely to benefit from the new boosters, said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease epidemiologist and an editor-at-large at Kaiser Health News.

"If you don't fall into one of those categories, it's really a toss up as to how much additional benefit you're going to get," she said.

Gounder recommends those who have recently gotten a booster or COVID-19 wait at least three months to give the immune system the best chance to mount a robust response.

John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said the most important boost is the first one. "Anyone who has not received that boost should do so as soon as possible, and irrespective of the composition of the vaccine," he said.

Pfizer has presented data on its BA.4/BA.5 booster from studies in labs and animals. The company says it generated a strong neutralizing antibody response against those and other Omicron variants, as well as the original strain of the virus.

The company provided regulators with data from a human trial testing the immune response of a shot that combined the original vaccine with the BA.1 Omicron variant. It plans this month to start a similar trial of the BA.4/BA.5 booster in those aged 12 and older.

Moderna's application to the FDA includes data from animal studies of the BA.4/BA.5 booster. A mid-to-late stage trial for the vaccine in people is underway.

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Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington, Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Thomson Reuters

Washington-based correspondent covering U.S. healthcare and pharmaceutical policy with a focus on the Department of Health and Human Services and the agencies it oversees such as the Food and Drug Administration, previously based in Iraq and Egypt.

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Explainer: Updated COVID-19 vaccines are coming in the U.S., should you get one? - Reuters

Low COVID-19 vaccination rates among school age kids in Wisconsin – WUWM

August 26, 2022

School is almost back in session, and parents are working to make sure their kids have everything they need to start the school year. For many parents, a COVID-19 vaccination should be on that list. Vaccination rates among school age kids in Wisconsin remain low, and Milwaukee Public Schools will be starting the year with optional masking in classrooms.

Only 30% of kids in the Milwaukee area have completed their first set of vaccinations. As the start date for Milwaukee Public Schools quickly approaches, what does this mean for our risk of another COVID surge?

"We know that the most important layer of protection for anyone to have, including kids, is to be vaccinated and, if eligible, boosted to have that maximal level of protection to, yes, prevent infection, but even more so now prevent that severe disease and that hospitalization. So, it is worrisome not seeing more children in the community, let alone adults, being fully vaccinated and being up to date on their boosters as well," says Dr. Ben Weston, the chief health policy advisor for Milwaukee County.

The CDC also now recommends that masks should be worn when you're living in a high, or an orange, community level of disease. And right now, Milwaukee dropped just below the high community level of disease threshold.

Weston says, "I say dipped below 200 cases per 100,000 is the threshold and we dropped down to 195 [cases]. So, we're just below the level ..., which puts us into a medium category, and so that's what caused Milwaukee Public Schools to flip their trigger and go to this mask optional state."

The most critical mitigation effort, he says, is getting vaccinated, but distancing and masking are also crucial, especially masking properly and using surgical masks, KN95 or N95 masks instead of cloth masks.

Right now, parents can access vaccines for their children through state's health care systems. However, parents should consult their children's pediatrician or family physician about how to get a vaccine.

"Certainly with the demand in vaccination decreasing more recently, the number of outlets that are able to resource and staff vaccination decreased as well," says Weston. "So frankly, we don't have the number of vaccination sites in the county private, public or other that we had a year ago."

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Low COVID-19 vaccination rates among school age kids in Wisconsin - WUWM

Perceptions and Motivating Factors Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination in L | PPA – Dove Medical Press

August 26, 2022

Introduction

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (US) has been drastic and far-reaching, especially for older adults and those with underlying health conditions, who are at greater risk for infection as well as adverse outcomes if infected.13 Moreover, the pandemic has disproportionately affected historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic/Latinx (hereafter referred to as Latinx), Asian, and Native American/Indigenous populations.4 Due to longstanding structural and societal inequities that have affected economic opportunity, access to healthcare, and overall health status, many such communities have been placed at greater risk of harm from the very onset of the outbreak.5,6 Further, individuals who are at the intersection of these two disproportionately affected communities, being of older age and members of historically marginalized communities, may be at a multiplicative risk for adverse consequences.7

Widespread access and timely uptake of preventative vaccines is vital to halting the spread of the COVID-19 virus and minimizing the consequences of new variants.8,9 Vaccine hesitancy, defined as either the refusal of or the delay in the acceptance of vaccination despite availability,10 threatens not only to attenuate progress made in the fight against COVID-19, but also to exacerbate health disparities. Recent cross-sectional surveys have demonstrated the relatively lower rates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in historically marginalized racial and ethnic communities compared to predominantly White communities in the US.11,12 Importantly, vaccination rates may be influenced by mistrust of the medical system, due to a long history of unethical research practices on historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups, as well as generations of exposure to and anticipation of discrimination.13 In addition, logistical challenges, including transportation barriers or an inability to take time off work, can further augment disparities in vaccine uptake.14,15 Moreover, language is among the most important factors influencing whether health information is understood and whether individuals, particularly Latinx adults, can access care. Language-concordant care is consistently associated with improved health outcomes; yet amid the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased access to in-person health services and medical interpreters has exacerbated existing challenges.16 Recent surveys suggest that Latinx individuals are approximately 1.5 times more likely than non-Latinx Whites to report vaccine hesitancy.11,12,17 This is of particular concern given that due to myriad social determinants of health Latinx individuals are 1.5 times more likely to be infected, 2.2 times more likely to be hospitalized, and 1.8 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to non-Latinx White individuals.4

To our knowledge, no published studies have specifically focused on vaccine acceptance and promotion among Latinx older adults, who represent an important group that has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Of note, by 2060, nearly 1 in 4 individuals in the US is projected to be 65 years of age or older, and Latinx individuals already the largest ethnic group in the US are projected to make up 29% of the population, further underscoring the significance of this group.18 As stated in a recent Lancet Commission publication, sustained, tailored efforts to reach and engage all US communities about COVID-19 vaccination is crucial to disrupt disparities in morbidity and mortality.19 Prior research has demonstrated that public health messaging campaigns can have differential efficacy by race/ethnicity and age group,20,21 and health messages are likely to be more effective when conceptualizing historically marginalized communities as heterogeneous and considering multiple dimensions of social identity at once.19,2224 Therefore, it is important to engage with local community members in order to guide messaging that is culturally attuned to the unique intersection of their unique, interacting, multiple identities being of older age and of Latin American decent. Understanding stakeholders experiences via in-depth interviews can inform ongoing efforts to promote vaccine uptake by identifying current gaps and integrating real-life, personalized perspectives into the development of materials. Thus, we conducted a qualitative study designed to inform linguistically- and culturally-tailored quality improvement and health communication efforts to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake at federally qualified health centers in Chicago. Conclusions and recommendations may be of interest to public health experts responding to the ongoing pandemic and other public health crises, with regards to this important subset of the US population.

The current study employed in-depth, semi-structured interviews, guided by the socio-ecological model (SEM).25 The SEM posits that individuals behaviors are determined by multiple, interacting levels of influence within a complex set of ecological environments, including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy;25 this framework was thus used to inform interview question development and thematic analysis in order to identify multiple levels of influence for individual stakeholders.26 Recruitment and data collection occurred between May and July 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Participants were eligible if they (a) were 50 years of age or older, (b) self-identified as Latinx/Hispanic, (c) were fluent in Spanish and/or English, and (d) had access to video conferencing technology and/or a phone. Participants were recruited via purposive sampling methods, with potential participants identified through social media posts, flyers and contacting participants from prior studies conducted by the research team.27,28

The study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Northwestern Institutional Review Board (IRB). For this study, we sought to recruit 15 participants, with 8 English- and 7 Spanish-speaking adults. Prior literature suggests that this number would be sufficient to reach saturation.29,30 Of 20 participants who were recruited and pre-screened, 15 met the eligibility criteria. In concordance with the literature, our own data analysis revealed that this number was sufficient to reach saturation.2931 During the pre-screening call, eligible participants provided verbal consent to participate in the interviews. Interviews were conducted by two authors (SWL, AZ) trained in qualitative research who followed semi-structured interview guides. Participants were asked a series of open-ended questions about their attitudes, beliefs, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines (see Supplementary Material 1). All interviews were conducted virtually via Zoom videoconference platforms audio-only function in order to: (a) protect participants privacy for the recording, and (b) allow participation of individuals without access to video technology. Interviews were administered in either Spanish or English, depending on each participants preference.

Interviews were supplemented with brief demographic questionnaires, which were interviewer-administered and recorded using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).32 In addition to basic demographics, the survey also included assessment of participants health literacy and acculturation levels. A single item screener was used to assess health literacy: How confident are you in filling out medical forms by yourself? Responses are measured on a scale of 1 (Extremely) to 5 (Not at all), with scores of 3 or greater indicating inadequate health literacy.33,34 The Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH) was used to assess language use, media use, and social relations; acculturation scores represent an average of 12 responses, measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being least acculturated to US culture and 5 being most acculturated.35,36

In total, the research activities lasted approximately 45 minutes. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Each participant received a $50 gift card for their time and effort.

Data analysis was guided by the Framework Method,37 with transcripts analyzed both deductively and inductively. Once a majority of interviews were completed, two authors (SWL, AP) began reading the transcripts for familiarity and content, and writing memos. A set of a priori codes, developed from the interview guide, was piloted with a subset of transcripts. These transcripts were double coded using NVivo software (release 1.4.1, QRS International), and differences in coding were reconciled for each transcript until full agreement was achieved. Memos were used to identify emergent themes and finalize the codebook. Once the codebook was finalized, two authors (SWL, AP) ensured each transcript was fully coded with a second round of coding. These authors met regularly to review coding and achieve coding consensus.38 Detailed matrices were then created in Microsoft Excel, with rows representing individual participants and columns representing single codes. Content relevant to each code was summarized between and within participants.39 The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was followed for reporting findings40 (see Supplementary Material 2).

The sample consisted of 15 Latinx adults between 50 and 79 years of age (m = 56.6 years). Ten were female. Eight participants were US-born, five were born in Mexico, and one each was born in El Salvador, Ecuador, and Canada. Of those who were foreign-born, time living in the US ranged between 8 and 51 years (m = 26.1 years), and nine participants reported low acculturation levels. Six participants were considered to have inadequate health literacy. On the SASH, four participants reported reading and speaking both English and Spanish equally, six reported using more Spanish, four reported using more English, and one reported solely using English. Nearly half (n=7) of the sample reported having government-sponsored health insurance (ie, Medicare, Medicaid), while four each reported being on private insurance or uninsured. Approximately half of the participants (n=8) were fully vaccinated at the time of their interviews, while four had received one of two doses, and three were unvaccinated. (Table 1)

Table 1 Participant Demographics

Four key factors influencing vaccination decision-making were identified: 1. Protecting oneself and loved ones, 2. Trust in authorities, 3. Access and availability, and 4. Employment and semblance of normalcy. Themes and sub-themes are discussed below, along with representative quotes. (Table 2)

Table 2 Key Themes

Nearly all participants (n=14) vocalized an understanding that the vaccine provides protection against COVID-19 infection, with some specifying the utility of vaccines in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, or death. Some participants highlighted the importance of being vaccinated in the context of preexisting health conditions. Over a quarter of the participants mentioned getting vaccinated as a way of assisting Gods will in allowing them to live as long as possible. These participants saw the vaccine as something that could help prevent death from COVID-19. As such, they saw themselves as working together with God.

Many participants noted that family members played an influential role in their vaccination decisions. For instance, two participants mentioned their desire to protect at-risk family members. Others discussed how witnessing loved ones suffer or die of COVID-19 influenced their decisions. Still others expressed how family members decisions to get vaccinated helped assuage their own hesitancy towards the vaccine.

Various participants also spoke about the vaccines on a larger, community-wide level, suggesting the importance of stopping the spread of COVID-19.

In addition to protecting yourself, you also protect other people. Sometimes you are asymptomatic, you may have had COVID and you dont know because you dont have symptoms, and if you are living with other people, you may infect them. So, out of respect for others as well. (Spanish-speaking, vaccinated male).

In this way, these participants saw the decision to vaccinate as a moral obligation or sign of respect towards others. The potential for the vaccine to protect from severe COVID-19 infections was a key reason that many participants decided to get vaccinated.

Despite the fact that most participants equated the vaccine with protection against COVID-19, the majority of participants (n=9) also expressed concern over potential long-term side effects from the vaccines. They expressed concern regarding the perceived newness of the vaccine and/or the vaccine technology, as well as the speed with which each of the vaccines was studied. For example,

One of the concerns is that this is a new vaccine, a new technology that is being implemented for this type of vaccine. Im worried that there will be a side effect over the years, not immediately. (Spanish-speaking, vaccinated male).

Additionally, a couple of participants mentioned their fear of needles or general dislike of shots as a factor contributing to their hesitancy. Some participants mentioned concerns about the possible effects of unnatural medical interventions on their bodies:

And they are saying that the vaccines only last six months and you have to get another one. So, thats too much in your body. That scares me a lot. Youre putting so many things inside, and we dont know what they are yet. (Spanish-speaking, unvaccinated male).

Participants shared different ideas of how the chemicals of the COVID-19 vaccine might affect them, including altering their genetic code or even, as one participant mentioned, summoning the will of the devil. The possible risks associated with the vaccines played a critical role in decision-making for sample participants. While this was a main deterrent for those who remained unvaccinated, even those who opted for vaccination endorsed weighing potential vaccine risks as key decision-making considerations.

Nearly two thirds of participants (n=9) mentioned trusting their doctors or healthcare providers with personal health decisions, including those regarding the vaccine. Some connected this to their providers training, while others felt their providers have their best interests at heart. Many participants also mentioned that they trust information coming from public health organizations, such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), or the National Institute on Health (NIH). Similarly, participants frequently mentioned trusting public health experts, particularly those who identify as virologists or other specialists, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci. Some participants described competing views about the quality of information coming from federal versus local officials:

I trusted the (state) government a lot because they offered statistics and they told us how people were moving. They showed us how the numbers went up and how they dropped. And if that came from people from other states, I cant know if that information is trustworthy or where those came from. (Spanish-speaking, vaccinated female).

Therefore, for some participants, information provided by local officials was considered more relevant and meaningful to them compared to information provided by the federal government.

Some participants mentioned distrust of authority, including the government, politicians, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies. A third of participants (n=5) mentioned they had heard of conspiracy theories, including that the government will be able to scan vaccinated people, that the government may be trying to kill people, and that the government could be manipulating the vaccine to contain a microchip to control the population. Four participants stated that the government needs to be more transparent, and five felt that politicians are not trustworthy. Some explained that the rapid and constant change in information provided about the vaccine contributed to their own sense of hesitancy:

I kind of take what the government says, like, with a grain of salt, one day to the next. Things are always changing. One things being said and something else has been said the next day. Things are safe. Things are not safe. Um, I cant believe everything that the government says because theres just been too much un-transparency. (English-speaking, unvaccinated female).

Participants also expressed skepticism over entities who may be benefitting financially from the pandemic and/or the vaccines, such as pharmaceutical companies. These beliefs and attitudes reflected a general skepticism and mistrust of the reasons for which officials are promoting the vaccine.

A third of participants (n=5) expressed gratitude for having access to the vaccine. A few noted that the pandemic seems more controlled in the United States than in Latin America, where some loved ones have not had the privilege of receiving vaccines. One participant specifically felt she had an obligation to receive the vaccine because, unlike her friends in various Latin American countries, she was fortunate enough to have the opportunity:

(My friends) believe that I should get it because Im able to get it. Its available. And that I live in a country that is providing it for free and stuff like that so I should take advantage of it (English-speaking, partially-vaccinated female).

About a quarter of participants (n=4) mentioned that individuals who are undocumented may feel particularly hesitant to receive the vaccine, either due to a fear of deportation, distrust of the government, or uncertainty about the documentation required to get vaccinated. Some also mentioned uncertainty regarding eligibility when people do not have health insurance or regarding the cost of the vaccine:

Well, those who had Medicaid were eligible to receive it but those of us who dont have it were unable to obtain it because we didnt have Medicaid or because we were not residents in this country. (Spanish-speaking, vaccinated female).

This participant, in particular, delayed vaccination until she was assured she did not have to pay for the vaccine. Relatedly, a third of participants expressed concern about a language barrier, highlighting the need for vaccine information to be provided in Spanish or other languages prevalent in given communities. Some participants also suggested that the public vaccination of Latinx celebrities or Spanish-speaking experts might help boost vaccination rates. Approximately half of participants also mentioned the need to inform members of their communities about where to get vaccinated, how to book an appointment, or how to get there. One participant suggested the radio could be an effective mode of communication for community members, while others suggested that setting up vaccination sites in grocery store parking lots or other conveniently located places may help to increase vaccine uptake in their communities.

Some participants spoke about how the vaccine can help people return to normal. Particularly, many participants discussed the vaccine in relationship to employment (n=6), mentioning the economic impact of the pandemic and the need to return to work. One participant suggested he would only get vaccinated if it did become mandatory for work, two mentioned family members who work in healthcare that needed to get vaccinated, and two stated that they personally received the vaccine due to their own employers requirements:

Yes, I thought, if I dont receive the vaccine and I want to work in certain places many places request that you have the vaccine. I knew that the persons I work with had already received the vaccine, so, if I didnt get vaccinated they could ask me, Have you received the vaccine? We have this condition and you wont be able to come. (Spanish-speaking, vaccinated female).

Others discussed the vaccine as a means to being able to return to church, go to weddings, travel, spend time with family members, and not have to wear masks indoors. Vaccination, for these participants, facilitated a return to events they enjoyed and missed.

While the fear of missing work due to side effects from the vaccine was mentioned as a potential deterrent, for the majority this did not come up organically. That said, a majority of participants (n=9) did express concern over the potential short-term side effects of the vaccines. Some mentioned concern about feeling sick after getting vaccinated.

Honestly, I, I dont trust it Well based on what Ive heard, people generally can contract COVID-19 again over and over. So, Im not so certain as to how well it works and then there are side effects. That some people tend to get. And so then, for that fact, I dont really think that its that safe for me that is And then on the second, I guess on the second shot, everybody has not been feeling too well, so that doesnt make me all too trusting of the vaccination either. (English-speaking, unvaccinated female).

Two participants expressed concern after hearing that some had died from the vaccine. These participants considered the possibility of short-term and immediate consequences of the vaccine interrupting their current functioning.

The present study explored Chicago-based Latinx older adults perceptions, attitudes, and decision-making factors related to the COVID-19 vaccines, with the purpose of informing the development of vaccine messaging for this population. Latinx older adults represent a sector of the US that has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.7 Nevertheless, to our knowledge, this is the first study to engage stakeholders from this community in an exploration of themes related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake, in order to inform material development. Findings revealed several factors that contribute to the vaccination decision-making process of sample participants: their desire to protect themselves and their loved ones, trust in authorities, concerns about access and employment, and desire for some semblance of normalcy. These themes suggested that, in designing vaccine messaging strategies for Latinx older adults in Chicago, general messaging strategies would benefit from key culturally-appropriate adjustments.

Numerous findings from the present study were similar to results found among the general population. Specifically, many participants in our study shared a wait and see attitude towards the vaccine preferring to defer receiving the vaccine until more long-term consequences are clarified or a preference for natural immunity, which has previously been associated with a lower likelihood of getting the influenza vaccine.4143 Similar to results of other vaccine studies,36,44 the weighing of perceived risks and benefits of vaccination was central to decision-making among sample participants. These findings highlighted the need for increasing awareness and knowledge of the serious risks of coronavirus, the direct prevention benefits of the vaccines, and the safety of the ingredients in the vaccines. Also consistent with recent work from the United Kingdom,13 many respondents discussed the vaccines as a way to return to normal faster, including socializing with friends and family, hugging loved ones, attending weddings and religious events, and traveling and working. Consistent with Lancet Commission recommendations,19 various participants mentioned the potential of mandates from employers as an important facilitator in getting vaccinated. These findings suggested that messaging could benefit from highlighting that vaccines are a key aspect of expediting a return to a pre-COVID-19 way of life particularly in terms of socializing and sustaining employment.

On the other hand, by engaging with the target population, our study revealed key areas where messaging should be adapted to the target population, including leveraging collective pronouns, spirituality, language, technology, trust, insurance, and immigration. Tailoring of health messages has been shown to be effective for changing behavior.45 In our study, the concept of vaccination as a moral responsibility in stopping the spread of COVID-19 is consistent with previous research that demonstrated that a lower sense of collective responsibility independently predicted lack of uptake of influenza, pneumococcal, and shingles vaccines in older adults.42 As Latinx culture is commonly more collectivist,46 it might be particularly useful to utilize collective pronouns such as we in messaging efforts, which has previously been associated with increased health intentions, including social distancing and mask wearing.47 Personal spiritual beliefs also surfaced as a common factor in decision-making. Similar to prior research on vaccine acceptance in Latinx communities,36 our findings suggested the importance of taking spiritual beliefs into account when designing and disseminating materials to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake, for instance by seeking partnerships with religious organizations in communities targeted by vaccine promotion efforts.

Logistical barriers, such as limited language-concordant information, transportation, and technology, were mentioned by various participants. In the context of the Latinx community, the perceived language barrier is particularly relevant, as inequity in access to health services is often compounded by language and communication challenges.16 Efforts to enhance vaccination uptake among older Latinx individuals should focus on ensuring that information is conveyed in Spanish through a variety of mediums, including low-tech options. For example, language-specific advice could be disseminated in texts, emails, letters, the radio, and posters in local community sites.48 Vaccination sites should also ensure the availability of language-concordant providers and/or interpreters, and translated, culturally-appropriate vaccine information.

Participants perceptions of healthcare providers and governmental officials consistently influenced decision-making. Discrimination, racialized processes, prior injustices, and unethical research have led to mistrust of the government and pharmaceutical companies among many historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups throughout history, and this has recently been shown to be associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and refusal.13,49 Addressing this mistrust will require drastic systemic change.13 Our findings suggested that a first step could be embedding within informational materials the explicit acknowledgement of historical and contemporary abuses of power in the context of vaccine acceptance, and the clear articulation of roles and responsibilities of the various entities that will contribute to COVID-19 vaccination efforts.13,19 In terms of future directions, governmental bodies and public health agencies may benefit from partnering with trusted community-based organizations and respected individuals to help spread accurate, research-based information and dispel the myths and conspiracies that have been circulated.49,50

Poor treatment of immigrants in the US may also be negatively influencing uptake behaviors among the Latinx population, as some participants discussed the fear of deportation or the uncertainty regarding vaccine access for those without citizenship. Relatedly, doubts were raised regarding access to the vaccines for those without health insurance, highlighting deep institutional problems with the healthcare system in the US, which is largely based on employment benefits or the ability to pay, and thus inherently discriminatory.51,52 Therefore, these findings indicated the importance of messaging that directly states that COVID-19 vaccinations are available at no cost and that citizenship and health insurance are not required for vaccination.

The current study has several limitations. This small sample is from one geographic region and is not generalizable to older Latinx adults living in other diverse regions of the US. Latinx individuals living in the US represent diverse backgrounds and experiences, shaped by myriad social, environmental, and structural factors and must be viewed as heterogeneous. As all coding was completed on English transcripts, it is possible that the translation process obscured certain nuances present in the original Spanish recordings. Despite bilingualism and professional and personal experience with Latinx communities, neither coder identifies as Latinx. Additionally, there was researcher overlap in collection and analysis of the data, which may introduce some bias. However, this study was novel in its inclusion of both English- and Spanish-speaking Latinx older adults, as well as its utilization of qualitative methodologies, which allowed for the exploration of the complexities and nuances involved in vaccination decision-making during the ongoing pandemic.

Semi-structured interviews with Latinx older adults revealed several key factors involved in COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. Culturally-tailored messaging may benefit from leveraging collective pronouns and spirituality, addressing insurance and immigration doubts, and considering language concordance, low-tech options, and trusted community partners. Next steps are to develop educational materials based on these themes, followed by dissemination and evaluation of their effectiveness. Lessons learned from this local engagement with stakeholders may provide insights to support future health behavior messaging that is culturally-based and catered to unique, intersectional communities that are disproportionately impacted by various public health crises.

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

This study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study, including publication of anonymized responses. Due to the risks involved with COVID-19 at the time, the Northwestern University IRB approved verbal consent. This was deemed a minimal risk study, and the barriers to meeting in-person would have been substantial. Research team members reviewed verbal consent forms in depth with all participants over the phone. Verbal consent was informed, witnessed, and recorded by research team members.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the RRF Foundation for Aging and by the National Institute on Aging, Grant Number P30AG059988. Research reported in this publication was additionally supported, in part, by the National Institutes of Healths National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Grant Number UL1TR001422. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of either RRF or the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Packreports grants via her University from NIH, RRF Foundation for Aging, Pfizer, Merck, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Lundbeck and Eli Lilly during the conduct of the study.

Dr. Bailey reports grants from the NIH, Retirement Research Foundation, during the conduct of the study; grants from Pfizer, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Merck, Lundbeck, and Eli Lilly and personal fees from Sanofi, Pfizer, University of Westminster, Lundbeck and Luto outside the submitted work.

Dr. Wolf reports grants from RRF Foundation for Aging, during the conduct of the study; grants from the NIH (NIA, NIDDK, NINR, NHLBI, NINDS), Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Pfizer, Merck and Eli Lilly, and personal fees from Pfizer, Sanofi, Luto UK, University of Westminster, Lundbeck and GlaxoSmithKline, outside the submitted work.

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