COID Engagement Initiative
IMPACT & REACH
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the inequities across many areas in our society including health care, research, policy, and essential community services. Although data that separates Pacific Islander numbers from the general population is limited, the states and counties that are reporting this data show Pacific Islanders are disproportionately affected by COVID-19—with some regions seeing rates of infection up to five times that of white people.
To address this disparity, PI-CoPCE is working with Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team and other partners to implement the COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases Engagement Initiative (COIDEI).
Contact
Dr. Nia Aitaoto
Principal Investigator/Project Director
Funder
This project was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award EAIN-00204.
Goal
The long-term objective of COIDEI is to reduce health disparities related to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases (COID). To accomplish this, the Initiative aims to:
- Facilitate an inclusive dialogue with diverse stakeholders to set and address COID research priorities
- Develop stakeholders’ capacity to conduct PCOR/CER including conducting training, providing resources, and facilitating partnerships
- Disseminate current knowledge, research, and best practices related to COID

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Koviki Talk
To facilitate connection and discussion between researchers and other stakeholders, PI-CoPCE with partners hosts Koviki Talk, a weekly webinar/podcast on all things Pacific Islanders, COVID-19, and seeking wisdom.
Viewers can register early on Zoom or tune in on Facebook Live. See below for recordings of previous episodes.
For additional COVID-19 resources, visit the Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team page.
Koviki Talk Past Episodes
Ep. 1 Seeking Wisdom 101
Ep. 3 – Seeking a Cure
Ep. 5 – Seeking Wisdom 201
Ep. 7 – How to Be a Good Research Partner
Ep. 9 – Infectious Diseases in the Pacific
Ep. 11 – Data Disaggregation
Ep. 13 – Community Health Workers
Ep. 2 – Census 2020
Ep. 4 – Faith in Action
Ep. 6 – Voting in the Time of Corona
Ep. 8 – Have You Voted Yet?
Ep. 10 – Pasifika Youth Voice
Ep. 12 – Vaccines for the Prevention of COVID-19: An Unprecedented Need – An Unprecedented Response