One Possible Consequence of COVID-19 Vaccine: Inequitable Distribution

Abstract Primary Health Network (PHN) is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Pennsylvania expanding over 17 counties. Getting Pennsylvanians vaccinated is a critical step in reducing the spread and impact of COVID-19, although research suggests that the inequitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine may be a critical barrier. Although concerns regarding vaccine hesitancy are prevalent, experts also suggest that disparities in vaccination rates are in part due to the lack of accessible scheduling; adversely affecting underserved, such as rural communities, and minority populations. To address these obstacles, Primary Health Network is creating a COVID-19 Vaccination/Health Equity Team. Their objectives include: creating tools to provide comprehensive information on vaccine supply, identifying potential challenges and proactively planning for ways to mitigate likely disparities, identifying people who wish to be vaccinated but lack the means to do so, and connecting them in an equitable way, to vaccinations.

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Targeting COVID Vaccine Hesitancy in Rural Communities in Tennessee: Implications for Extending the COVID-19 Pandemic in the South

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9111279 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1279

Author(s):

Donald J. Alcendor

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Financial Incentives ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

The South ◽

Vaccine Acceptance ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Rural Counties ◽

Cultural Conservatism ◽

History Of

Approximately 40% of Tennesseans are vaccinated fully, due mainly to higher vaccination levels within urban counties. Significantly lower rates are observed in rural counties. Surveys suggest COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is entrenched mostly among individuals identifying as white, rural, Republican, and evangelical Christian. Rural counties represent 70 of the total 95 counties in Tennessee, and vaccine hesitancy signifies an immediate public health crisis likely to extend the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennessee is a microcosm of the pandemic’s condition in the Southern U.S. Unvaccinated communities are the greatest contributors of new COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Rural Tennesseans have a long history of cultural conservatism, poor health literacy, and distrust of government and medical establishments and are more susceptible to misinformation and conspiracy theories. Development of novel strategies to increase vaccine acceptance is essential. Here, I examine the basis of COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection and summarize the pandemic’s extent in the South, current vaccination rates and efforts across Tennessee, and underlying factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Finally, I discuss specific strategies to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We must develop novel strategies that go beyond financial incentives, proven ineffective toward vaccinations. Successful strategies for vaccine acceptance of rural Tennesseans could increase acceptance among unvaccinated rural U.S. populations.

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Increasing Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in a Federally Qualified Health Center Organization Using a Systems-Based Intervention Integrating EHR and Statewide Immunization Information System

Journal of Community Health ◽

10.1007/s10900-021-00965-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Debra M. Vinci ◽

Jessica Ryan ◽

Maureen Howard ◽

Dallas Snider ◽

Brandy Strahan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Information System ◽

Health Center ◽

Hpv Vaccine ◽

Hpv Vaccination ◽

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Federally Qualified Health Center ◽

Healthy People 2020 ◽

Immunization Information System ◽

Period System

AbstractPublic acceptance of the HPV vaccine has not matched that of other common adolescent vaccines, and HPV vaccination rates remain below the Healthy People 2020 target of 80% compliance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity of nine pediatric clinics in a Federally Qualified Health Center organization to implement a systems-based intervention targeting office staff and providers using EHRs and a statewide immunization information system to increase HPV vaccination rates in girls and boys, ages 11 to 16 over a 16-month period. System changes included automated HPV prompts to staff, postcard reminders to parents when youths turned 11 or 12 years old, and monthly assessment of provider vaccination rates.During the intervention, 8960 patients (11–16 yo) were followed, with 48.8% girls (n = 4370) and 51.2% boys (n = 4590). For this study period, 80.5% of total patients received the first dose of the HPV vaccine and 47% received the second dose. For the first dose, 55.5% of 11 year old girls and 54.3% of 11 year old boys were vaccinated. For ages 12 to 16, first dose vaccination rates ranged from the lowest rate of 84.5% for 14 yo girls up to the highest rate of 90.5% for 13 yo boys. Logistic regression showed age was highly significantly associated with first dose completion (OR 1.565, 95% CI 1.501, 1.631) while males did not have a significant association with first dose completion compared to females. The intervention increased overall counts of first and second HPV vaccination rates.

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