COVID-19 Commons^™

The Impact Of Age, Health, And Education On Public Attitudes Towards Covid-19 Vaccines In Ireland, Kate Buckley, Aisling Burke, Chloe Holland, Clodagh O'Flynn

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Abstract:

Introduction: Studies have revealed that age, health status and 3^rd level education influence public attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the public’s attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine two years post-pandemic.

Methods: Ethical approval was obtained for the study. A total of 241 participants who provided informed consent were surveyed anonymously using closed-ended, open-ended and Likert Scale questions. Associations between specific demographics and vaccination attitudes were established using SPSS software.

Results: A higher percentage of 25–34-year-olds and 35–44-year-olds regretted receiving COVID-19 vaccines (46.6% and 37.5% …

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal Of Health Sciences, Volume 6, Issue 1, July 2026

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences, Volume 6, Issue 1, July 2026.

The Undergraduate Education And Scientific Literacy: Exploring How College Influences Student Perception Of Covid-19 Events, Peyton Brooking

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Current undergraduate students received much of their education following the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these students experienced pandemic events before receiving any or most of their science-based higher education. Exploring their progress through higher education, and how it retroactively influenced their perception of pandemic events, serves as an informative research area. This study explores how undergraduate education in the sciences influences student engagement with complex recent events in science. In addition, this study asked how higher education builds confidence in interpreting this information. Additionally, students were surveyed to understand their scientific literacy baseline at the beginning of …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Progress, Successes, And Challenges Among Indiana Recipients As Part Of A National Initiative To Reduce Covid-19–Related Health Disparities, Marla Winters, Lily Darbishire

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided funding to states as part of the CDC Disparities Grant initiative. The aim of the funding was to reduce chronic disease and COVID-19–related health disparities among vulnerable communities through four unique strategies. Funding was awarded to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to begin an Indiana chapter of this initiative, called Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE). From 2021 to 2023, the IDOH provided I-HOPE funding to local communities (subgrantees) to support the design and implementation of programs to improve community health. For example, …

Exploring The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Preventive Healthcare Utilization In Rural Georgia, Ryan R. Traylor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and preventive healthcare use among adults in Georgia, specifically within rural populations facing structural barriers. Using 2023 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, the research analyzes associations between ACE exposure, rural residence, and preventive care outcomes, including physical exams and flu vaccinations. Guided by an intersectionally adapted version of Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, the study evaluates how predisposing factors, enabling resources, and perceived barriers relate to healthcare engagement. Logistic regression analyses assess the correlation of ACE exposure, cost barriers, provider access, and sociodemographics with preventive …

Viral Misunderstandings: Reddit Posts And The Covid-19 Infodemic, Julia C. Knutson

Scripps Senior Theses

Information epidemics or “infodemics” became the center of misinformation conversations, due to a global increase in information spread surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. While many academic scholars and institutions, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) attribute the cause of infodemics to anti-science attitudes and the public’s lack of scientific literacy, scholars in Science, Technology, and Society argue that analyzing misinformation within these isolated bounds limits our understanding of its underlying social and historical contexts. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study for misinformation analysis reveals a gap in our current understanding of how people who resonate with or spread …

Public Perception About Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In South Central Nebraska, Rita Nnenne Oparaocha

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

The COVID-19 pandemic created a shift in the trajectory of vaccination hesitancy, altering risk perceptions and vaccination attitudes among individuals in rural communities. The 5C framework highlights confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility as influencing factors of vaccine hesitancy. This study assessed the proportion of adults who refused COVID-19 vaccination and identified the individual reasons for hesitancy among those who refused the COVID -19 vaccines in South Central Nebraska. Data was analyzed from a local cross-sectional public health survey administered to 2,034 adult participants over a six-month period (March-August 2024), including 91 respondents who were from outside the seven-county …

Assessing Post-Pandemic Engagement In The Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) In Northeast Tennessee, Christen Minnick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 1974, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has provided healthy food resources, nutrition education, and provider referrals for families at risk for poor nutrition. Public health professionals have consistently presented evidence that WIC engagement reduces premature births and infant mortality, improves child health and development, and increases specialized care access for participants. While average monthly participation in WIC has increased since the program’s inception, trends indicate that only around half of eligible families have consistently engaged with the program since 2011. Research has linked declining WIC participation to administrative burden, citing learning, psychological, compliance, …

Finding Community: A Thematic Analysis Of Resilience During The Pandemic, Myles Kwitny, Quinn Richards, Grace Digirolamo, Shannon Freedman, Sophie Wenzel

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic impacted those within rural Appalachian communities, particularly people with marginalized identities.

Purpose: Through interviewing 44 participants from New River Valley, an Appalachian community in Virginia, this study sought to understand how resilience impacted individuals' experiences during the pandemic.

Methods: Participants belonged to one of the following groups: African American, Hispanic, older adults, or people who use drugs. Participants were required to reside in the New River Valley and be older than 18. Each participant was interviewed either in person, by phone, or over video call. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, then thematically analyzed for themes of resilience. …

Earth Care Trusted Messengers Vaccine Access Project, Camille Velarde, Theresa H. Cruz

Reports & Documents

The Earth Care Trusted Messengers Vaccine Access Project was a two-month intervention implemented in Santa Fe, New Mexico in spring 2025 to address persistent barriers to COVID-19 and routine vaccine access among Spanish-speaking communities. Using a peer-to-peer “Trusted Messenger” model, respected community members received training in vaccine knowledge, communication strategies, and community organizing before hosting small house meetings to share accurate information, address concerns, and build trust.

A mixed-methods evaluation included pre/post/follow-up surveys, weekly house meeting questionnaires, and a final focus group. Quantitative results demonstrated substantial increases in participants’ confidence across all domains, including vaccine knowledge, communication skills, and ability …

“The Technology We’Ve Been Forced To Use”: Impact Of Online Service Delivery For Kinship Families During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Angela Tobin, Amanda Klein-Cox, Ramona Denby

Social Work Faculty Research

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly changed the service landscape for both professionals and families. Kinship families, who often navigate multiple systems concurrently with higher service needs, were among the most vulnerable. This study explores kinship caregivers’ and child welfare professionals’ perceptions of changes in service delivery during the pandemic, specifically the sudden shift to virtual platforms.

Materials and Methods: To understand participants’ experiences, focus groups with protocols shaped by initial Delphi Rounds were implemented with 25 kinship caregivers and 34 child welfare professionals from a national sample.

Results: Caregiver and professionals shared themes related to how COVID-19 precautions impacted service …

The Use Of Health And Herbal Products For Covid-19 Self-Prevention And Its Affecting Factors According To Theory Of Planned Behavior, Suppachai Insuk, Supanida Kittirattanasak, Mullika Sirithongkaset, Daranee Chiewchantanakit

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: Despite the World Health Organization’s recent declaration of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lessons learned from the outbreak remain crucial for future public health responses. In Thailand, the pandemic’s impact led individuals to explore self-protection methods, including potentially ineffective health products. This study examined the prevalence of health and herbal products used for COVID-19 self-prevention, to identify the types of these products in use and to identify factors influencing their utilization.

Methods: A cross-sectional study surveyed 400 Thai participants aged 25–60 who had never contracted COVID-19. The study employed convenience sampling and self-administered online questionnaires based on …

Assessing The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Health Literacy In Patients Presenting To A Student-Run Free Clinic, Sabah Iqbal, Kirsten Carlberg, Krisha S. Patel, Ashlyn Mcclelland, Sarah Marotta, Rebecca Moore

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Health literacy as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), refers to an individual’s ability to find, understand, and use health information and services1. This definition has evolved with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing emphasis on preventative healthcare. We aimed to observe the impact of the pandemic on the health literacy of patients in a free community clinic run by medical students.

Hypothesis

This study aims to assess the effect of various demographic and socioeconomic factors and the COVID-19 pandemic on health literacy levels estimated by the NVS assessment in the patient population …

The Importance Of Public Health In College Populations: Why Vaccines Are Important, Kashish Poore

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This paper examines the importance of vaccines in college populations, where high-density living environments create unique vulnerabilities to infectious disease outbreaks. Despite vaccine mandates at most institutions, research indicates that many college students possess incomplete understanding of vaccine mechanisms and importance. The paper addresses three interconnected aspects: the biological foundations of vaccine-induced immunity, the significance of vaccination in collegiate settings, and the current state of vaccine literacy among students. Historical outbreaks on campuses, including meningitis at Princeton and mumps across several institutions, highlight the consequences of undervaccination. Social media misinformation has contributed significantly to vaccine hesitancy, particularly since COVID-19. The …

Relationship Between Prevalence Of Disability And Receiving The Covid-19 Vaccine Abstract, Brady Beard, Michael Treichler, Kevin Gittner

Symposium of Student Scholars

COVID-19 vaccines were developed to reduce the spread and severity of the virus, particularly among vulnerable populations. People with disabilities are at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions, limited access to healthcare, and potential barriers to preventive measures like social distancing. Despite their vulnerability, disabled individuals may face challenges in accessing vaccines, such as physical barriers, transportation issues, or a lack of tailored information. Additionally, vaccine hesitancy may be influenced by concerns about potential side effects harming existing disabilities. This study investigates the research question: "Is there a relationship between receiving the COVID-19 vaccine …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Vaccines And Publics: A Variety Of Engagement Experiences, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

This chapter is about some of the sites and scenes where members of the public are exposed to (and engage in) vaccination discourse. To preview, after a brief introduction, we begin with messaging models of communication, followed by the move from messaging to engagement. Next, case examples of public engagement with vaccines are introduced, from pandemic influenza preparedness in the U.S., to polio eradication initiatives in India, and then to COVID-19 public engagement events in England. Settings of public engagement are noted, including online, in churches and museums. Then, there’s a section about communication and public participation, seen as either …

Structural And Interpersonal Determinants Of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake In Vulnerable Populations Of The United States, Alyea Wood

Capstone Showcase

Since its introduction in late 2020, the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine has had the lowest rates in marginalized populations like minorities, elderly, and those of low socioeconomic status. Decreased rates of vaccination uptake in these groups has resulted in increased burden of disease and subsequently higher rates of hospitalization and death. Many inequities in poor COVID-19 health outcomes can be explained by examining common predictive factors that determine vaccination rates in these United States populations. This special article research aims to explore these various predictive factors with the goal to provide targeted strategies to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates, especially …

Exploring The Impact Of Covid-19 And The Role Of The Church On African Americans’ Mental Well-Being In South Georgia, Adrian D. Lewis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 disrupted the social dynamics of communities in the United States. Furthermore, public health mandates led to closures that changed how populations access faith. Historically, African Americans have utilized the church to cope with societal stressors. This study will explore the history of church utilization in the African American community, assess how COVID-19 public health mandates led to church closures for the first time in recent history and impacted this marginalized population, and provide a qualitative perspective on the quality of life during the closures and what changed after the closures for African Americans in …

Minds, Made Up Or Malleable? Covert Commands At The Eclipse Of Vaccine Communications, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

Abstract: Although millions have died from SARS-CoV-2 illness, COVID vaccines are credited with stemming the tide. Vaccinations and boosters significantly decrease the incidence of severe illness and death (even if they don’t usually prevent COVID-19 infection). Despite the success of global vaccination efforts, frequent reports of vaccine hesitance and refusal suggest that public health communications need improvement.

The chapter begins by acknowledging adverse events associated with COVID vaccination, including rare cases of anaphylaxis, GBS, and myocarditis. An inoculation-theoretic rationale is offered for this admission of vaccine risks: just as immune defenses mount when organisms are exposed to pathogens, so too …

Reflections From The Pandemic: Is Connectivism The Panacea For Clinicians?, Jennifer Benjamin, Tyson Pillow, Heather Macneill, Ken Masters, Anoop Agrawal, Neil Mehta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent increased interest in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) highlight the need for interprofessional communities' collaboration to find solutions to complex problems. A personal narrative experience of one of the authors compels us to reflect on current approaches to learning and knowledge acquisition and use solutions to the challenges posed by GenAI through social learning contexts using connectivism. We recognize the need for constructivism and experiential learning for knowledge acquisition to establish foundational understanding. We explore how connectivist approaches can enhance traditional constructivist paradigms amid rapidly changing learning environments and online communities. Learning in connectivism includes …

Navigating The Aftermath: Understanding Covid Impact & Addressing Health Disparities In The Post-Pandemic Recovery Symposium Executive Report, Ashlee Young, Zuri Dale

COVID Research

While the immediate crisis may have passed, the pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in public health systems. A comprehensive examination of the ongoing effects of the pandemic offering insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to recover and rebuild four years after the pandemic began is crucial. Our bold vision is to improve health and quality of life and further the science that transforms lives. This reflection is crucial to prepare for future pandemics or global health crises. The 2024 theme, Navigating the Aftermath: Understanding COVID Impact and Addressing Health Disparities in Post-Pandemic Recovery, was a …

Covid-19 And Health Equity: Lessons Learned From The Pandemic, Sumaya Ali, Lakell Archer, Erica L. Jensen

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Health inequities refer to avoidable, unjust differences in health outcomes caused by systemic disadvantages rooted in social, economic, and environmental contexts (Braveman, 2014). Health disparities refer to differences in health outcomes between groups, often measured by prevalence, morbidity, or mortality (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). Health inequalities are measurable differences in health status that may arise from biological, social, or environmental factors (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019). Health inequities, however, are specifically preventable and unjust differences.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these inequities, intensifying pre-existing structural disparities within healthcare and societal systems. The pandemic underscored the urgency of …

Effects Of Misinformation And Disinformation On Vaccine Hesitancy And Routine Vaccine Uptake, Cindy Chen

Master's Projects and Capstones

This literature review was conducted to identify the role misinformation and disinformation plays on the rates of vaccine hesitancy and vaccine uptake for routine immunization among the child and adult populations of the United States. Fifteen articles between 2018-2024 were extracted from PubMed and Google Scholar databases. As shelter-in-place and social distancing protocol wanes, the risk of common vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) reemerges, especially in populations that have not kept up with routine immunization schedules. Current efforts to restore mass vaccination campaigns are underway, but do not provide the necessary modifications to include social, behavioral, and cultural factors that influence …

Which Types Of People Were Least Likely To Get The Covid-19 Vaccine?, Xue Zhang, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Vaccine hesitancy is a long-standing challenge that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the reasons behind different types of vaccine hesitancy is crucial for developing effective vaccine messaging strategies that can increase confidence in and uptake of future vaccines. This brief summarizes the findings from a study that used data from the 2022 National Wellbeing Survey on 7,612 U.S. adults aged 18-64 to identify characteristics of adults who were least likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine and the characteristics associated with different types of vaccine hesitancy. The authors considered three non-mutually exclusive types of vaccine hesitancy: 1) watchful (concerned about …

Associations Between Covid-19 Therapies And Outcomes In Rural And Urban America: A Multisite, Temporal Analysis From The Alpha To Omicron Sars-Cov-2 Variants, A. Jerrod Anzalone, William H. Beasley, Kimberly Murray, William B. Hillegass, Makayla Schissel, Michael T. Vest, Scott A. Chapman, Ronald Horswell, Lucio Miele, J. Zachary Porterfield, H. Timothy Bunnell, Bradley S. Price, Sharon Patrick, Clifford J. Rosen, Susan L. Santangelo, James C. Mcclay, Sally L. Hodder

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: To investigate the enduring disparities in adverse COVID-19 events between urban and rural communities in the United States, focusing on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and therapeutic advances on patient outcomes. Methods: Using National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data from 2021 to 2023, this retrospective cohort study examined COVID-19 hospitalization, inpatient death, and other adverse events. Populations were categorized into urban, urban-adjacent rural (UAR), and nonurban-adjacent rural (NAR). Adjustments included demographics, variant-dominant waves, comorbidities, region, and SARS-CoV-2 treatment and vaccination. Statistical methods included Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression. Findings: The study included 3,018,646 patients, with rural …

Maintaining Program Fidelity In A Changing World: National Implementation Of A School-Based Hiv Prevention Program, Elizabeth Schieber, Lynette Deveaux, Lesley Cotrell, Xiaoming Li, Stephenie C Lemon, Arlene S Ash, Karen Macdonell, Samiran Ghosh, Maxwell Poitier, Glenda Rolle, Sylvie Naar, Bo Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Large-scale, evidence-based interventions face challenges to program fidelity of implementation. We developed implementation strategies to support teachers implementing an evidence-based HIV prevention program in schools, Focus on Youth in The Caribbean (FOYC) and Caribbean Informed Parents and Children Together (CImPACT) in The Bahamas. We examined the effects of these implementation strategies on teachers' implementation in the subsequent year after the initial implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 79 Grade 6 teachers in 24 government elementary schools. Teachers completed training workshops and a pre-implementation questionnaire to record their characteristics and perceptions that might affect their program fidelity. School …

Medications For Opioid Use Disorder & Implications For Mobile Methadone Units, Sarah Boeke, Samantha Singer, Stella Resko

Substance Use Research Team

Research has shown the urgent need for updates to guidelines regulating opioid treatment programs (OTPs), especially as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated overdose rates and the drug supply became increasingly contaminated with fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and xylazine (Moghtaderi et al., 2023)(DEA, 2022). Part 8 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), originally enacted in 2001, includes regulations that guide OTPs. The 42 CFR Part 8 final rule, issued by SAMHSA, updates these federal regulations. It is the first major revision since 2001, aimed at expanding access to care, improving patient outcomes, and integrating lessons learned from the COVID-19 …

How Individuals’ Opinions Influence Society’S Resistance To Epidemics: An Agent-Based Model Approach, Geonsik Yu, Michael J. Garee, Mario Ventresca, Yuehwern Yih

Faculty Publications

Background: Protecting public health from infectious diseases often relies on the cooperation of citizens, especially when self-care interventions are the only viable tools for disease mitigation. Accordingly, social aspects related to public opinion have been studied in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of opinion-related factors on disease spread still requires further exploration. Methods: We propose an agent-based simulation framework incorporating opinion dynamics within an epidemic model based on the assumption that mass media channels play a leading role in opinion dynamics. The model simulates how opinions about preventive interventions change over …

Comparing The Use And Effectiveness Of In-Person And Remote Physical Education Delivery During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kempson Onadeko, Timothy J Walker, Derek W Craig, Jacob Szeszulski, Andjelka Pavlovic, Laura F Defina, Harold W Kohl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Physical Education is a key component to improve youth health, but there is limited information on Physical Education delivery in different formats.

PURPOSE: We compared PE formats (in-person versus remote) across evaluation aspects: weekly minutes; perceived effectiveness; and student-to-teacher ratio.

METHODS: We distributed questionnaires (2020-2021 school year) to school contacts who represented NFL Play 60 FitnessGram

RESULTS: Among 165 schools, 10% (n=17) offered in-person instruction, 31% (n=51) offered remote instruction, and 59% offered both (n=97). Results revealed higher in-person PE minutes (77.2±7.3) compared to remote minutes (67.1±14.6), but results were not significantly different (p=0.19). School contacts reported significantly more …