Brooklyn Non-Profit Releases Study on COVID-19 Testing & Vaccines

(Brooklyn, N.Y.) -- According to a study published today by Brooklyn Communities Collaborative (BCC) and Maimonides Medical Center, as many as three in five Brooklyn residents would hesitate or refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The study, conducted by 22 local student researchers trained in Participatory Action Research (PAR), surveyed over 1,600 Brooklyn residents to understand community attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccinations and inform outreach efforts.

The study found that while the majority of respondents (61%) have been directly affected by COVID-19, 59.9% still do not intend to be vaccinated or remain unsure, mainly due to concerns about side effects (74.6%). However, healthcare professionals remain the most trusted source of information about COVID-19, according to nearly 80% of survey respondents.

Summary of Key Findings

• 61% of respondents said they had been directly affected by COVID-19, with 41% reporting that a family member or friend had contracted the virus and 21% reporting that they contracted the virus themselves.
• 60% of respondents said they do not intend to be vaccinated or remain unsure, mainly due to concerns about side effects (74.6%), the speed at which the vaccine was produced (45.9%), or the “history of harmful medical experimentation on people” (26.1%).
• When asked to identify which sources they trusted most for information about COVID-19, the majority of respondents selected medical professionals (79.5%), followed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (50.9%) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (49%).
• When asked to identify the most effective way of disseminating information about testing and vaccines to the public, more than half of respondents selected healthcare providers (57.9%).
• 55.4% of respondents reported being tested for COVID-19, mainly because they were exposed to someone who tested positive (41.4%), they were not feeling well (36.1%), or the test was mandated by their employer (24.9%).
• When asked in an open-ended format about how the testing experience could be improved, many respondents expressed a need for greater accessibility to testing sites and improved efficiency in the testing process.

In response to the study, BCC, in partnership with Maimonides Medical Center, will allocate $150,000 to support COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and outreach efforts throughout the borough. The funds, provided by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will be distributed by BCC and Maimonides Medical Center to the following local nonprofit organizations:

• Arab American Family Support Center
• Air NYC
• Bay Ridge Center
• Brownsville Multi-Serivce Family Health and Wellness Centers
• Anne Kastor Brooklyn Free Clinic
• Brooklyn Perinatal Network
• CAMBA
• The Code Foundation
• Chinese American Planning Council
• Caribbean Women’s Health Association
• Elite Learners
• Haitian American Community Coalition
• Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island

“Understanding how community members are responding -- their experiences and concerns, who they trust, and where they go for information -- is crucial to ensuring COVID-19 vaccines are distributed effectively and equitably. This study will be instrumental in making sure these vaccines are accessible to those who need them most, and that the diverse voices of community members are heard and reflected in our COVID-19 outreach efforts,” said Shari Suchoff, Executive Director of BCC.

“The Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) is proud to partner with Maimonides Medical Center in ensuring equitable access to health care for New York's most underserved communities. Leveraging Maimonides' generous support, AAFSC is working diligently to provide culturally and linguistically accessible COVID-19 testing and vaccine information and practical appointment assistance to New York's immigrant communities," said Rawaa Nancy Albilal, President and CEO at Arab-American Family Support Center.

“Chinese American Planning Council (CPC) is excited to collaborate with Maimonides Medical Center and Community Care of Brooklyn to expand COVID-19 testing and vaccination outreach in Sunset Park. Thanks to the funding from Maimonides Medical Center, CPC will be able to continue providing access to COVID-19 resources to a historically underserved immigrant community,” said Steve Mei, Director of CPC Brooklyn Community Services at Chinese American Planning Council.

“Over the last four weeks, Caribbean Women’s Health Association (CWHA) staff has been able to provide linkage to vaccination for 300 clients. As a trusted source in the community, CWHA will continue to educate and advocate for immigrants and people of color to be vaccinated to protect themselves and others from this deadly virus," said Cheryl Hall, Executive Director at Caribbean Women’s Health Association.

###

About Brooklyn Communities Collaborative

Brooklyn Communities Collaborative is a not-for-profit based in New York that works with local institutions and stakeholders to address longstanding health inequities in the borough. BCC was founded last year with the goal of leveraging the financial power of anchor institutions and community resources to address the economic factors that improve the social determinants of health -- whether it's supporting housing stability, advancing economic empowerment, expanding care management services, or strengthening CBOs in the area. BCC's innovative, student-led research studies target historically underserved communities throughout the borough to identify challenges and concerns raised by residents, using that information to inform stakeholders and organizations on solutions. BCC builds upon years of collaborative efforts with anchor institutions and community partners in Brooklyn, which have helped connect 80,000 complex-need patients to care management services, produce 30,000 pounds of fresh produce annually in Central Brooklyn, and develop 3,400 housing units.

About Maimonides Medical Center

Maimonides Medical Center is a 711-bed non-profit tertiary care provider in Brooklyn, New York. It operates the largest hospital in Brooklyn as well as the borough's only full-service Cancer Center. Maimonides physicians are nationally known for clinical excellence, innovation and groundbreaking research. An independent teaching and research institution, Maimonides is a major clinical training site for the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Founded in 1911, the Medical Center continues to grow and adapt to the needs of Brooklyn's patients and families. Maimonides is an affiliate of Northwell Health. For additional information on the nationally recognized clinical services at Maimonides Medical Center, please visit www.maimo.org.