Potential Key Partners: Department of Health, local governments, community leaders, vaccination centers, universities, and non-governmental organizations

Summary:

Puerto Rico is developing an evidence-based health literacy plan to promote COVID-19 vaccinations and increase the ability of older adults to make informed decisions about their health. Their plan includes three phases:

1. Puerto Rico has developed and will conduct a community needs assessment (attached to this post) for organizations which provide services to adults aged 60 and over. This assessment will increase Puerto Rico’s understanding of organizations’ perceptions on the COVID-19 vaccination process, barriers to vaccinating older adults, and health literacy among older adults.

2. Puerto Rico will use the results of the community needs assessment to develop an evidence-based health literacy plan. This plan will be tailored to the needs and health knowledge of local communities. This plan will strengthen health literacy strategies, including but not limited to: educational talks about the COVID-19 vaccine, individual counseling by healthcare providers, media campaigns, and peer-led educational workshops.

3. Puerto Rico intends to collaborate with partners (e.g., non-profit organizations and community-based organizations) who will implement these health literacy strategies. Puerto Rico will provide technical assistance to their partners and support them in helping individuals understand health information and make their own decisions about their health.

Click here to read the definitions of personal and organizational health literacy and learn more about their importance.