61 Black and Latino Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccines: A Mixed-methods Examination

The study investigates attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines among Black and Latino communities that were heavily impacted by the pandemic. It aims to understand vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in these groups, highlighting both similarities and differences in perspectives to inform public health strategies.

The researchers used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, partnering with 16 leaders from community-based organizations. They conducted a mixed-methods study focused on Michigan counties with high COVID-19 infection and death rates. In 2021, they performed qualitative interviews with 24 Black and 16 Latino residents in English or Spanish. These qualitative data were integrated with quantitative survey data from the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS; n=1,800) on vaccine attitudes and behaviors. The work was conducted under the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19.

• Black participants exhibited greater mistrust and hesitancy regarding COVID-19 vaccines and reported less willingness to be vaccinated, often citing historical mistreatment as a reason.
• The predominant motivator for vaccination for both Black and Latino respondents was the desire to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.
• Trust in information and in science was a stronger motivator among Latinx participants compared to Black participants.
• Latino participants more frequently emphasized vaccine access issues than Black participants.
• Fear of side effects and perceived risks were commonly cited reasons for hesitancy by both groups.
• Sample sizes: qualitative interviews included 24 Black and 16 Latino participants; quantitative survey included 1,800 respondents from DMACS.

Findings underscore both shared and distinct drivers of vaccine decisions across Black and Latino communities. While safety concerns and community protection were common themes, higher mistrust among Black participants and greater emphasis on access and trust in science among Latino participants indicate that a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient. Tailored public health interventions that specifically address concerns, historical context, trust in information sources, and access barriers are warranted.

This mixed-methods study highlights meaningful differences and commonalities in COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among Black and Latino communities. The results point to the need for tailored, community-engaged public health strategies that address group-specific concerns (e.g., mistrust, access) while reinforcing shared motivations such as community protection. Future efforts should develop and evaluate targeted interventions co-designed with community partners to improve vaccine confidence and access.