AUTHOR=Abu-Freha Naim , Alsana Hadel , El-Saied Sabri , Azbarga Zuya , Aloka Muhammad , Goda Tarek , Abu Tailakh Muhammad 

TITLE=COVID-19 Vaccination Among the Arab Bedouin Population: Lessons Learned From a Minority Population

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=67

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604133

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604133

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> We investigated the causes of low COVID-19 vaccination rates among a minority population and highlighted interventions for increasing the vaccination rate.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We reviewed the experience during the mass vaccination campaign period among the Arab Bedouin (AB) in Israel, attempting to determine important causes of low vaccination rates and gathered information from real-life experience and through direct contact with the population during the campaign.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Causes for low vaccination rates in the AB are related to the health system infrastructure, crisis management strategies, and population characteristics. Long-standing socioeconomic inequalities, limited resources, and language and culture barriers present special challenges to the task of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. Key interventions for increasing vaccination rates among minority populations include raising awareness, improving vaccination access, and directly targeting risk-groups. To maximize the effectiveness of these interventions they should be culturally adapted and executed according to the needs of each individual target community.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Culturally adapted awareness campaigns, interventions, and improved access to vaccines can be accomplished by cooperation between relevant governing and community bodies to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among minorities.</p>