# Xavier RCMI Renewal Application-Administrative Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2021 · $369,149

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The investigators at Xavier University of Louisiana propose a rapid vaccine education
model to be delivered at the point of COVID-19 testing to be delivered at pharmacies, clinics
and urgent cares. Documented trends of vaccine hesitancy and decreased vaccine access has
disproportionately impacted rural communities, particularly African Americans who reside in
those communities. The target population is African-Americans, Hispanics, Vietnamese
Americans and those living in rural communities. The Specific Aims of this proposal are:
Specific Aim #1: To implement a rapid vaccine education model at the point of COVID-19
testing in clinics, pharmacies and urgent care clinics. Investigators anticipate a 15% increase
in COVID-19 vaccine completion rates among those who participate in the vaccine education.
Specific Aim #2: To assess barriers to COVID-19 vaccination, including: vaccine hesitancy,
vaccine access and other social determinants of health among the target population using
the point of COVID-19 testing at pharmacies, urgent care clinics and clinics.
Specific Aim #3: To assess health system’s related barriers to offering vaccine education
among healthcare support staff such as pharmacy technicians, nurse’s aides, medical
assistants and pharmacy interns.
Method: Individuals will be recruited using a community-based participatory research model
with existing partners to identify 375 patients to receive COVID-19 vaccine education at the
point of COVID-19 testing by trained healthcare workers. The target enrollment is: 65% African-
Americans, 10% Hispanic, 10% Vietnamese, and 20% residents of rural communities.
Participants will complete a rapid COVID-19 vaccine education delivered by support healthcare
professionals at the testing locations. Monitoring for vaccine completion will occur by Links©
(Louisiana Immunization Network) access. For Aim #3, healthcare participants will complete a
pre and post survey to assess health system’s barriers to vaccine education at the point of care
among healthcare support staff.
Impact: This researcher aims to understand health related beliefs and behaviors related to
vaccination at one point of healthcare access, COVID-19 testing. This interventional approach
will help to develop strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccination in vulnerable communities. This
grant will facilitate training early stage investigators and diversify the health research workforce
as the researchers are underrepresented minorities and women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10436013
- **Project number:** 3U54MD007595-13S3
- **Recipient organization:** XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Guangdi Wang
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $369,149
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2009-09-24 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10436013

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10436013, Xavier RCMI Renewal Application-Administrative Core (3U54MD007595-13S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10436013. Licensed CC0.

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