Helping Black and Latinx patients with rheumatic diseases get recommended COVID-19 vaccines

Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groupswith Rheumatic Diseases

NIH-funded research University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11061299

This project helps Black and Latinx adults living with autoimmune rheumatic diseases get their recommended COVID-19 vaccines.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Birmingham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11061299 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many Black and Latinx adults with autoimmune rheumatic diseases have not received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses. This project creates a special program that includes personal stories from vaccinated patients and support from a patient navigator. We will test this program in a large group of patients to see if it helps more people get vaccinated. Our goal is to make it easier for patients to understand vaccine recommendations and overcome any challenges to getting their shots.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Black or Latinx adults aged 21 or older who have an autoimmune rheumatic disease and may need help with COVID-19 vaccination.

Not a fit: Patients who have already received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses or do not have an autoimmune rheumatic disease may not directly benefit from this specific program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly increase COVID-19 vaccine rates among Black and Latinx patients with rheumatic diseases, potentially improving their health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Community-engaged methods and patient navigation have shown promise in improving health behaviors in other areas, but this specific combination for COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this patient group is being newly tested.

Where this research is happening

Birmingham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.