COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project Q&A

We believe, as leading and diverse healthcare stakeholders, that we have a responsibility to come together to provide information about the clinical trials process, regulatory review, distribution of and access to potential COVID-19 vaccines in a way that promotes equity and trust. A vaccine works best when everyone in the community has the confidence to be vaccinated.

To create the right environment for vaccine confidence to thrive, the project will be the convener of a dialogue among organizations representing the multitude of constituencies that face challenges from COVID-19, particularly diverse communities that have been most harmed, and those on the front lines of the pandemic. We aim to encourage adherence to robust regulatory review, share knowledge about that process to increase transparency, and raise awareness of the need to ensure that all stakeholders are involved at each stage of the process.

A return to normal relies on communicating transparent, scientifically accurate information about vaccines and vaccine technology–including what we know and what we still need to learn. Vaccines must continue to adhere to a gold-standard review process. The COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project is guided by the core belief that approval and dissemination of COVID-19 vaccines must be based on:

• Robust clinical trials that include diverse patient populations
• Public disclosure of results from Phase 3 clinical trials, in accordance with FDA guidance
• Authorization and subsequent approval based on evidence generated from clinical trials and well-established review processes at FDA
• Transparent and ongoing post-marketing safety surveillance

To achieve its overall mission, the project seeks to:

• Provide education on, and advocate for adherence to a gold standard regulatory review process
• Raise awareness around the importance of COVID-19 vaccination for public health, the economy, and broader society
• Promote the impact of widespread COVID-19 vaccination uptake in protecting individuals, families, and communities
• Drive a conversation that helps ensure equitable access to vaccines through equitable access to information and dialogue

The COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project is led by the Alliance for Aging Research, HealthyWomen, and the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, who are convening a range of leading organizations representing patients, caregivers and families, diverse communities, healthcare workers, older adults, veterans, frontline workers, and scientists to coalesce around solutions that support vaccine confidence and a commitment to communicating scientifically accurate information around the COVID-19 vaccine review and approval process.

Convening organizations provide oversight and partners from additional stakeholder organizations lend their expertise and perspective to the project. Each of the three conveners are non-profit organizations that represent distinct groups committed to aging and health, women and their healthcare providers, and African Americans age 50 and over.

Project members work to:

• Ensure that members are informed of activities, have opportunities to contribute to the identification of plans and priorities, and participate in approved activities
• Amplify the project’s work and messaging to constituencies through existing communications channels and advising on materials necessary for this amplification
• Advise on important needs or challenges facing their constituencies

We welcome additional partner organizations, each of whom have an important role to play. Members support the project’s overall mission and are committed to participating in activities that promote open dialogue, engagement and effective communication around COVID-19 vaccine confidence and trust, in order to address the skepticism that exists among individuals and within many communities.
Members play a critical role in helping to build confidence in the science and regulatory rigor involved in the vaccine development and approval process and are also committed to communication about the role vaccine confidence plays in addressing health inequities that exist generally and specifically with respect to COVID-19. The project asks that all stakeholders commit to promoting approved materials and activities with their broader constituencies using appropriate platforms and channels.

Initial support for the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project is provided by Pfizer, Inc. We welcome the support of others to help bolster this effort and convene a dialogue among the organizations representing and serving the multitude of constituencies that face challenges from COVID-19.

To ensure that all stakeholders are involved at each stage of the process and create the right environment for vaccine confidence to thrive, a dialogue is needed with organizations representing the multitude of constituencies that face challenges from COVID-19, particularly diverse communities that have been most harmed by the disease. To that end, the project hopes to reach a range of audiences over the course of the vaccine development, approval, and distribution cycle.

The goal of the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project is to convene leading stakeholders to provide information on the importance of equitable access to potential COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of manufacturer or product. There is no endorsement, implied or otherwise, of any particular vaccine or vaccine candidate.

At this time, the project is focused solely on convening stakeholders, promoting dialogue and engagement, and providing
educational resources in an effort to foster vaccine trust and confidence.