Table 1 High-impact areas and associated key actions in the Equity in Epidemic Response framework

Community Partnerships and Engagement

• Engage with community stakeholders to identify needs and address barriers with response strategies.

• Implement interventions using local resources.

• Practice cultural humility and prioritize building trust in communities.

Communication

• Engage community stakeholders in designing and disseminating communication plans and materials.

• Develop culturally aware messages to prevent stigma, labeling, or othering of populations.

• Adapt messages so that information is readily accessible and comprehensible.

• Monitor engagement with health messages.

Social and Economic Conditions

• Provide safe and temporary shelter.

• Strengthen economic security.

• Promote social support services.

Data Systems and Methods

• Establish mechanisms for equitable and ethical data collection and sharing with researchers and communities.

• Increase representation of marginalized populations in research studies.

• Implement or strengthen community-based health surveillance.

• Utilize qualitative and quantitative methods to design and analyze research studies.

Health Infrastructure and Supply Chains for Preventives, Therapeutics and Diagnostics

• Promote partnerships to expand the production of preventives, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

• Develop an equitable mechanism for procuring, allocating, and delivering vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

• Strengthen local laboratory capacities.

Accessibility of Outbreak Resources and Essential Health Services

• Address barriers that may influence the uptake of public health measures.

• Develop sustainable supply and distribution strategies.

• Provide training and support for health workers, including community health workers.

• Maintain the provision of other essential health services such as care for chronic conditions, substance use disorders, sexually transmitted infections, etc.