The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff announced in a news release that their Cooperative Extension Program which is a part of their School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences has received a $26,794 grant. The grant serves as part of the national Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE) project.
According to the release, the project is a partnership between Cooperative Extension and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The long-term goal of the partnership is to strengthen immunization education with a focus on adult vaccination hesitancy around both COVID and other adult immunizations.
Iris Cole-Crosby, an Extension associate for UAPB, was mentioned as the person who will oversee the grant. She said it will be used to address health disparities among rural and underserved communities.
“The main focus will be to identify the barriers for rural and underserved communities,” she said. “We will provide unbiased information to allow residents to make an informed decision to vaccinate with confidence.”
Crosby said UAPB will be working in Lee, Jefferson, St. Francis, and Little River counties.
