COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project Launches To Further Inclusion and Dialogue Around Potential COVID-19 Vaccines

Stakeholder campaign to focus on engagement with diverse constituencies and the importance of the clinical trials process, regulatory review, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

WASHINGTON, December 2, 2020 –Today, a group of more than 60 leading organizations representing patients, caregivers and families, diverse communities, health care workers, older Americans, veterans, frontline workers and scientists, launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project.

Led by the Alliance for Aging Research, HealthyWomen, and the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc., the project will convene a dialogue among organizations representing the multitude of constituencies that face challenges from COVID-19, particularly diverse groups that have been most harmed, and those on the front lines of the pandemic.

With multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates in development, the project’s partners are working collectively to encourage adherence to robust regulatory review, share knowledge about the review process to increase transparency, and raise awareness of the need for all stakeholders to be involved at each stage of the process.

This work is guided by a core belief that approval and dissemination of any and all 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 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance;
• Authorization and subsequent approval based on evidence generated from clinical trials and well-established review processes at FDA; and
• Transparent and ongoing post-marketing safety surveillance.

As part of the effort, the project has launched www.covidvaccineproject.org to share information and resources to help educate a variety of critical audiences about the process and the science related to COVID-19 vaccines, as well as address the health inequities that exist generally and specifically with respect to COVID-19.

To learn more about the project and for details on how organizations and industry partners can get involved, click here.

Statement from the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project:

“Authorized and approved COVID-19 vaccines are our best hope to protect against the virus that has singlehandedly changed everything. We expect, and believe it is important, that there be multiple vaccines for COVID-19. The COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project strives to communicate scientifically accurate information – including what we know and what we still need to learn. As we await safe and effective approved vaccines, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to information about the vaccine process.”

And leadership of convener organizations:

Sue Peschin, President and CEO of Alliance for Aging Research: “Advancements in science and research have helped Americans live longer, healthier lives. It is especially important that older Americans, who have been hit hard by this virus, are educated on how eventual COVID-19 vaccines can help protect them.”

Beth Battaglino, RN-C, CEO of HealthyWomen: “Our mission is to educate and empower women to make informed decisions about their health based on accurate, evidence-based information. We want to raise awareness and drive a conversation about the need for public trust in COVID-19 vaccines and help ensure that all women have the information they need to have confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.”

Karyne Jones, President and CEO of National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc.: “Our objective is to help people understand that vaccines are rigorously researched in order to be determined as both safe and effective. Communities of color are a priority in this work, and our aim is to grow trust. We hope this effort will help motivate them to get vaccinated, consistent with future recommendations, so they can resume their lives.”

COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project Members (to-date):

• Alliance for Aging Research
• HealthyWomen
• National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc.
• Align Us Inc.
• Alliance for Patient Access
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• American Academy of PAs
• American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
• American Behcet’s Disease Association
• American College of Emergency Physicians
• American Medical Women’s Association
• American Muslim Health Professionals
• American Nurses Foundation
• American Physical Therapy Association
• American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
• Amputee Coalition
• Arthritis Foundation
• Association of Immunization Managers
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization
• Black Women’s Health Imperative
• Caregiver Action Network
• Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity
• Chronic Care Policy Alliance
• Color of Crohn’s & Chronic Illness
• Emergency Nurses Association
• Emily Stillman Foundation
• Generations United
• Global Healthy Living Foundation
• HealthHIV
• Heart Valve Voice US
• HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute
• Immunization Action Coalition
• International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis
• Islamic Medical Association of North America
• Kimberly Coffey Foundation
• LeadingAge
• Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
• Men’s Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association
• Men’s Health Network
• Meningitis B Action Project
• National Association of Chain Drug Stores
• National Association of County & City Health Officials
• National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs
• National Coalition for LGBT Health
• National Consumers League
• National Council on Aging
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
• National Grange
• National Health Care for the Homeless Council
• National Health Council
• National Hispanic Council on Aging
• National Hispanic Medical Association
• National Osteoporosis Foundation
• Patients Rising
• Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation
• Research!America
• RetireSafe
• SAGE
• Sepsis Alliance
• Society for Women’s Health Research
• The Gerontological Society of America
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
• Vaccinate Your Family
• WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

Initial support for the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project has been provided by Pfizer, Inc.

Press Contacts

COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project: [email protected]

Project Convener Organizations:

Alliance for Aging Research: [email protected]
HealthyWomen: [email protected]
National Caucus & Center on Black Aging, Inc.: [email protected]

About the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project

As leading organizations representing patients, caregivers and families, diverse communities, healthcare workers, older Americans, veterans, frontline workers and scientists, we believe 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. Learn more at covidvaccineproject.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn at @COVIDVxProject.

Media Contact:
Janelle Germanos
Communications Manager
[email protected]
(202) 688-1209