RCMI-CCRHD Administrative Supplement 2020-2023 “Puerto Rico COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Study (PR-COVACUPS)”

Research Areas

  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Cancer associated with HPV and HIV
  • HPV vaccine policy implementation
  • Evidence-based cancer prevention research
  • Community-based participatory research

Scientific Achievements

  • Contributed to the documentation of the prevalence, risk factors, and awareness of HPV infection among males in Puerto Rico
  • Expanded the promotion of cancer research and health disparities with community outreach and research
  • Documented the impact of the HPV school-entry requirement in Puerto Rico
  • Authored 75+ peer-reviewed publications in cancer prevention and population science
  • First recipient of the Immunization Excellence Award (VOCES), Educational and Community Engagement Initiative Category
  • First recipient of an NIH R01 at the UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center. Director and leader of five active grants focused on cancer prevention

Funding

RCMI Funding:

  • NIH/NIMHD U54MD007600

Other funding obtained with RCMI support:

  • 6922-03-COVID-S026, “Community Engagement Research Alliance Against COVID-19 in Disproportionately ADected Communities”
  • U54 MDAAC/UPR, NIH/NCI, “Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research”
  • R01CA232743 NIH/NCI “Implementation of School-Entry Policies for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination”
  • P20GM148324 NIGMS, “Center for the Promotion of Cancer Health Research (CePCHE)”
  • 1OT2OD037800, “National Latino Network for Precision Medicine and Health Disparities Research”

Scientific Advance

Religiosity and Beliefs toward COVID-19 Vaccination among Adults in Puerto Rico
Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 19, 2022, PMID: PMC9517592.
This study surveyed nearly 1,900 adults in Puerto Rico in late 2020 through early 2021 to understand how much people’s religious beliefs and importance they place on religion relate to their attitudes about COVID-19 vaccination and their intent to get vaccinated. The findings show that people who view religion as “very important” are more likely to be uncertain or unwilling to receive the vaccine compared to those who consider religion less important. Those same individuals also report feeling less susceptible to COVID-19, seeing more barriers to vaccination, and perceiving fewer benefits from the vaccine. On the other hand, many also said they would consider vaccination if they had better information or if more people in their community got vaccinated. These results suggest that vaccine promotion campaigns in Puerto Rico may need special attention to the religious community, especially ensuring clear, trustworthy information and leveraging community norms.
G12 MD007600 / NIMHD NIH HHS, R25 CA240120/NCI NIH HHS/United States
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