Rural Health
Resources by Topic: COVID-19
Factors Associated With Mortality in Appalachian Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines neighborhood characteristics related to Appalachian nursing home (NH) mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,259 NHs in Appalachia for COVID-19 death rates and overall mortality, with breakdowns according to NH characteristics, patient sociodemographics, and rurality.
Author(s): Erica Gigas, Baiming Zou, Lorinda A Coombs, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 1-9
Date: 04/2026
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Examines neighborhood characteristics related to Appalachian nursing home (NH) mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,259 NHs in Appalachia for COVID-19 death rates and overall mortality, with breakdowns according to NH characteristics, patient sociodemographics, and rurality.
Author(s): Erica Gigas, Baiming Zou, Lorinda A Coombs, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 1-9
Date: 04/2026
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First Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Among Pregnant Tennessee Women by Month of Conception and Urbanization Level: March 2021 - November 2021
Describes rates of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy among Tennessee women with a live birth who conceived from March-November 2021. Features statistics with breakdowns by month and by 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Claudia Valenzuela, Anne K. Driscoll, Elizabeth Harvey, Heather Wingate
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 85-95
Date: 04/2026
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Describes rates of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy among Tennessee women with a live birth who conceived from March-November 2021. Features statistics with breakdowns by month and by 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Claudia Valenzuela, Anne K. Driscoll, Elizabeth Harvey, Heather Wingate
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 85-95
Date: 04/2026
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Rural Targeted Messaging, Multiplex Salivary Measurement, and Rural Equity in SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing: Protocol Overview of a SeroNet Investigation
Overview of a study protocol to examine the influence of rural-targeted messaging on uptake of serological (antibody) testing for COVID-19, using data of 194 people northern Michigan who viewed either rural-targeted or general didactic videos on antibody testing. Discusses how the study will examine the role of rural messaging on receptivity of antibody testing, among other factors.
Author(s): Leah Maschino, Kelly A. Hirko, Christopher D. Heaney, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 50, 101627
Date: 04/2026
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Overview of a study protocol to examine the influence of rural-targeted messaging on uptake of serological (antibody) testing for COVID-19, using data of 194 people northern Michigan who viewed either rural-targeted or general didactic videos on antibody testing. Discusses how the study will examine the role of rural messaging on receptivity of antibody testing, among other factors.
Author(s): Leah Maschino, Kelly A. Hirko, Christopher D. Heaney, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 50, 101627
Date: 04/2026
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Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Respiratory Virus Season
Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Acute Myocardial Infarction in Medicare Beneficiaries During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines how acute myocardial infarction incidence and outcomes differed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2018-2023 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiary data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R. J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e264122
Date: 04/2026
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Examines how acute myocardial infarction incidence and outcomes differed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2018-2023 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiary data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R. J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e264122
Date: 04/2026
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Mapping Spatial and Social Inequities of Long COVID Across the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Telehealth Uptake and Rural-Urban and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Postpartum Care Access Among Medicaid Beneficiaries in South Carolina, 2018–2022
Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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Compares how postpartum care attendance and timeliness varied by race and ethnicity, rural or urban dwelling, and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations varied by level of telehealth uptake, using 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid claims and enrollment data.
Author(s): Anirban Chatterjee, Xuzhuo Zhao, Jihong Liu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(5), 298-309
Date: 03/2026
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Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Kentucky, 2021–2023
Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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From Expansion to Expiration: Federal Policy Waivers and Telehealth Utilization in US Primary Care (2016–2024)
Examines the impact of COVID-19 federal policy waivers on the long-term sustainability of telehealth access. Provides a scoping review of 2016-2024 articles focused on telehealth utilization for primary care, the removal of geographic restrictions in telehealth policy, and the subsequent impact on healthcare access for rural areas.
Author(s): Abhilasha Bellapu, John Geracitano, Jamie Conklin, Saif Khairat
Citation: Advances in Health Information Science and Practice, 2(1), eRCTG8117
Date: 02/2026
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Examines the impact of COVID-19 federal policy waivers on the long-term sustainability of telehealth access. Provides a scoping review of 2016-2024 articles focused on telehealth utilization for primary care, the removal of geographic restrictions in telehealth policy, and the subsequent impact on healthcare access for rural areas.
Author(s): Abhilasha Bellapu, John Geracitano, Jamie Conklin, Saif Khairat
Citation: Advances in Health Information Science and Practice, 2(1), eRCTG8117
Date: 02/2026
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COVID-19: Federal Efforts to Support Behavioral Health Programs During the Pandemic
Describes how selected Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awardees provided behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and how SAMHSA supported awardees' response to the pandemic. Discusses how SAMHSA's advisory councils and Policy Lab supported the agency's COVID-19 response. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes how selected Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awardees provided behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and how SAMHSA supported awardees' response to the pandemic. Discusses how SAMHSA's advisory councils and Policy Lab supported the agency's COVID-19 response. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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