National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Murphy, K.A.
Pre pandemic vaccine coverage rates were already becoming stagnant or experiencing decline,
but reviews have shown that there has been further decline in these rates post COVID-19
pandemic. Decreasing vaccine rates can lead to a host of individual and population health
issues, including increased rates of vaccine preventable diseases and HPV -related cancers. We
have seen continued reemergence of measles cases and more recently, polio viruses in US
wastewater. In addition, it highlights gaps in our public health systems and infrastructure.
Extension professionals are uniquely primed to be champions of vaccine education and
awareness – Family & Community Health (FCH) County Extension Agents tend to be trusted
members of broader counties and communities they live, work, and play in, often having grown
up in the area. Some of these agents also have a health education or public health background,
making them an appropriate channel to discuss vaccine education and awareness, as well as
directing community members to clinical and access resources.

As part of the EXCITE Implementation Phase grant project, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
FCH agents were surveyed on several factors relating to their familiarity with infectious
diseases, the immune system, and their level of knowledge related to vaccines and their
intended purpose. Agents were also asked if they have encountered specific questions related to
vaccine development, safety, and effectiveness, and were given space to share additional
information not covered in the survey. These responses are being used to inform the
development of the professional development session “Vaccines 101”.
This presentation will show agent responses, incorporation of survey responses into the
professional development session, review of and lessons learned during and from the facilitated
session, and how to continue providing agent’s evidence-based and community needed
resources related to the subject matter.