Adagio Health Addresses Vaccine Hesitancy in Rural Communities

Medical providers reassure patients around safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

Pittsburgh, PA (August 17, 2021)- For more than 50 years, Adagio Health has providing compassionate, inclusive care to communities in western Pennsylvania. Now, the medical team is drawing upon their strong relationships with patients and families as they administer COVID-19 vaccines in the rural areas where many of Adagio Health's medical offices are located. The organization's providers say that patience, understanding, and open conversations are the keys to addressing vaccine hesitancy expressed by some uncertain patients.  

"I ask every patient if they would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine," said Adagio Health Mobile Health Unit Nurse Practitioner, Gretchen McCord Wolbert.  "If they say that they are considering it but are on the fence or have concerns, I'll ask what those concerns are so that I can provide them with information and the answers they need in order to feel comfortable receiving it." Gretchen shares this recent experience after asking a new mobile health patient if she was interested in a COVID-19 vaccine.

She looked at me and said "what do you think about it?" I told her about the benefits and potential side effects. She again said, "But what do you think about it"? I told her that I had received it and had encouraged my family members to get it. She replied, "You know…I've been praying about whether to get the vaccine or not and you just gave me the answer that I needed. I'll get it."

Similar sentiments were expressed by a patient in Adagio Health's Seneca, PA office recently, who said that being asked if she wanted to receive the vaccine by medical providers she trusts was the sign she had been waiting for. She then said yes to receiving the vaccine.  

Adagio Health's Mobile Health Unit primarily serves rural communities to the north and east of Pittsburgh. Adagio Health also has eight brick and mortar medical offices located in Butler, Beaver, Edinboro, Erie, Indiana, New Castle, Seneca and Uniontown, Pennsylvania - all of which are now classified by the CDC as areas of either High or Substantial COVID-19 transmission as the Delta variant spreads.  

"Our team worked really hard to acquire needed authorizations and equipment in order for Adagio Health to become a COVID-19 vaccine provider," said President and CEO, BJ Leber. "We added adult immunizations to our service menu a few years ago, and it just made sense to add COVID-19 vaccines as well. We also have strong relationships with patients and in some areas, we've provided care for up to three generations of the same family. With that in mind, we want to do our part to help end the COVID-19 pandemic, and we strongly believe that administering vaccines to as many people as possible is what's going to get us there. Our patients know us and trust us - and we are ready to provide education and reassurance about COVID-19 vaccines, one patient at a time if that's what it takes."  

One common concern that Adagio Health providers are hearing from patients who are hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine centers on fertility. It's an issue that the medical team is able to address calmly and factually, as the CDC is very clear on the relationship between vaccines and fertility: there isn't one. Per the CDC:

There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that female or male fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.

To date, approximately 351-million people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with over 166-million now fully vaccinated under what the CDC calls, "the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history."

Adagio Health is currently administering both Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use in individuals 18 years of age and older; while the Pfizer vaccine is available to patients ages 12 and up.  

About Adagio Health - Since 1971, Adagio Health has provided health and wellness services in western Pennsylvania. Today, the organization's operational includes seven counties in West Virginia and five counties in New York. Adagio Health also manages the state-funded Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP) in 62 counties across Pennsylvania. Many of the 110,000+ patients and clients receiving services through Adagio Health are uninsured or underinsured women who reside in rural communities. Adagio Health's services include family planning and reproductive care for women and men, breast and cervical cancer screening, and adult care basics such as immunizations and screenings. Adagio Health also serves thousands of children and families through nutrition and education programs including WIC and Power Up (SNAP-Ed), and tobacco cessation programs aimed at teens and adults. All services are provided through funding from foundations, the State and Federal government and in partnership with a variety of local organizations and other funders.