Native Boost: Increasing Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Among Native American Communities
This blog post is by Ari O’Donovan, Boost’s Diversity Program Director and Boosting Our Voices Podcast Host. It is part of our “Stronger Together Oregon” blog series that focuses on communities of color in Oregon.
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month 2023, we want to highlight an outstanding program specific to Native American communities. Native Boost “strives to increase vaccine confidence and increase childhood immunization rates in Tribal communities across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.” At Boost Oregon, we understand that culturally specific programming and peer advocates have the greatest impact when it comes to fostering positive vaccine attitudes, and increasing vaccination rates among BIPOC communities. We are thrilled when BIPOC communities partner with us to develop resources and programs. Native Boost is an adaptation of Boost Oregon’s programming and is guided by the Tribal Advisory Committee on Immunizations (TACI). Native Boost is led by Lummi Tribal member, Tam Lutz, MPH, MHA, CPST, and Native Boost Project Manager, Tyanne Conner, MS. Through their work at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB), Tam, Tyanne, and their colleagues provide educational materials and support to providers, parents, and caregivers.
Native Boost has a wide variety of resources to serve tribes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Through a Native American lens, the Medical Provider’s Guide offers guidance to providers on how to address vaccine-related issues. The Parents’ Guide to Children’s Vaccines offers detailed information about the basics of vaccines so that parents feel prepared when discussing vaccines with their health providers. Your Child’s Vaccines Flip Book is an easy way to find information about each vaccine given to children and track when a child’s vaccines are administered. Native Boost: Understanding Childhood Vaccines is a pictorial booklet with many colorful images and limited text to illustrate important facts about vaccines. It is designed to be a teaching tool for public health workers and medical professionals. Native Boost has additional resources available on their website. Be sure to learn more and share the great resources available from Native Boost and NPAIHB.
