Research in the Kim laboratory is supported by the Celgene Corporation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, LEO Pharma, and National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) (K08AR065577, R01AR070116, R01AR077007, and R21AI167047) (to B.S.K.). A.M.T. and M.R.M. are supported by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (T32AI007163). A.M.T. and L.K.O. are supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (T32HL007317). A.M.T. is supported by NIAID (F30AI154912). Research in the Gereau laboratory involving human dorsal root ganglia research is supported by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) (R01NS042595) (to R.W.G.). Research in the Alexander-Brett laboratory is supported by NHLBI (R01HL152245) and the Burroughs Welcome Fund (1014685) (to J.A.B). Research in the Cavalli laboratory is supported by the McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology and NINDS (R01NS111719) (to V.C.). O.A. is supported by the postdoctoral fellowship from the McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. Research in the Davidson laboratory is supported by NINDS (RF1NS113881) (to S.D.). Research in the Hu laboratory is supported by National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (R01AA027065), NIAMS (R01AR077183), and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (R01DK103901) (to H.H.

Background: A COVID-19 vaccination for children is positioned to be a critical resource in the pandemic-prevention effort. However, studies have shown hesitation towards COVID-19 vaccination uptake and a lack of trust in government agencies; putting children at risk for not receiving preventative medical care. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between trust in public health agencies and parental intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Methods: Residents of a Midwestern state who reported being parent/guardian of one or more child, aged <18 living at home, were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey conducted during September-October 2020 (n=238). Participants were asked their level of trust in both state and local public health departments and if they planned on vaccinating their children against COVID-19. Resident geography, rural, suburban, and urban, was categorized using definitions from the Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA) and matched to participant county of residence. Descriptive and binomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict probability of vaccine intent for children.Results:. Among participants, 132 (55.5%) reported intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Factors that were found to significantly decrease probability of vaccinating child were being a rural resident and lower level of trust in both state and local public health agencies. Discussion: Results from this study highlight the importance of addressing public health agency mistrust among individuals, regardless of geography, to assure more equitable vaccine delivery. Further, special focus may be needed for those living in more isolated, less populated areas, where a higher level of trust may be needed before parents vaccinate their children.

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BACKGROUND As the COVID‐19 pandemic spread, school district administrators in the United States were faced with difficult decisions regarding the implementation of virtual or in‐person learning to reduce risk of infection throughout student and staff populations. While a coordinated effort with surrounding districts would be most beneficial when encountering a highly infectious respiratory‐based infectious disease, the determinants of type of education delivery is unclear. METHODS Data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education assessing education delivery method at each school district across the state of Missouri (n = 514) from August 2020 were used. This cross‐sectional study, using results from a school district‐level survey, local COVID‐19 rates, and community‐level sociodemographic characteristics, conducted a spatially adjusted analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine associations between education delivery type and geographic‐level sociogeographic characteristics. RESULTS Among Missouri school districts, 172 (33.4%) reported starting the 2020‐2021 academic year with an in‐person policy, 52 (10.1%) with a distant/virtual policy, 242 (47.1%) in‐person with a distance option, and 48 (9.3%) with a blended policy. This study found districts with lower household income levels were less likely to offer students any virtual learning options. Additionally, community COVID‐19 infection rates were not associated with the selection of virtual or in‐person education delivery. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest the presence of a specific school policy was spatially random in regard to neighboring community policies, even when accounting for community characteristics. The efficacy of policy is likely to benefit upon application of a spatial framework when addressing a crisis fundamentally tied to location. Future planning that highlights and focuses on regional coordination for community resilience in the face of a pandemic should incorporate data sources that inform decisions made for families, students, and communities.

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