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COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence

Connect to end COVID-19, social workers support informed vaccine decision-making

Every day more people are becoming vaccinated, but there are many others who have not been vaccinated, despite the demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death. Social workers, as professionals who provide services in a wide range of community settings, and who are trusted messengers, are in a unique position to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence, access, and uptake — particularly among populations with low vaccination rates and higher vulnerability to severe forms of infection.

NASW and the NASW Foundation partnered with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute (HBRT) at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work in a $3.3 million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded (CDC) initiative (2021-2024) to support social workers and their clients in informed vaccine decision-making. The CDC funding was included in a supplement to CDC #6NU84DD000009: Engaging Social Workers in Boosting COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake. The grant concluded September 29, 2024.

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CDC Resources

The CDC provides information and resources beneficial to social workers working to enhance COVID-19 vaccine confidence.

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Related Podcast Episodes

Listen to NASW Social Work Talks podcast episodes "Vaccine Education with Connect to End COVID-19" and "How to Reach Special Populations with Motivational Interviewing."

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COVID-19 Social Work Advocates Stories

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NASW COVID-19 Resources

Social workers support informed decision making about important healthcare choices, provide health information from credible sources, and address mental and behavioral health concerns arising as a result of this public health crisis.

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CDC/HHS Funding


This project and website are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3.3 million with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.