%A Mitchell, Emily L %A Sullivan, Sarah R. %A Hamerling-Potts, Kyra K %A Dobbs, Matthew F %A Geraci, Joseph C %A Goodman, Marianne %D 2022 %T Development of a COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Single Session Group Intervention for US Veterans %K %X Background:  COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy remains problematic and is particularly prevalent in minority and underserved communities. Aim and Scope: The development and initial efficacy of a single-session Vaccine Hesitancy-focused Telehealth Group at a Veterans hospital in the Bronx, NY are described. This single-session telehealth group integrated motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, and a “vaccine positive” peer with the goal of addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccination rates. Methods: This project was approved by the quality assurance and improvement team at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx, NY. From the vaccine-hesitant Veteran referrals received from providers, eight vaccine hesitancy groups, averaging 3.5 participants  per session, were conducted. Thirty Veterans total participated in the telehealth group. Results:  Two-thirds of the participants have received the COVID-19 vaccine, with the vast majority of participants receiving the vaccine after the group. About half of the participants (n=14) were more willing to get the vaccine following the intervention and none experienced an increase in hesitancy. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest this may be one intervention to increase vaccine acceptability and COVID-19 vaccination rates. Program strengths, limitations, and suggestions are discussed. %U https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/3216 %J Medical Research Archives %0 Journal Article %R 10.18103/mra.v10i12.3216 %V 10 %N 12 %@ 2375-1924 %8 2022-12-21