Eliminating hepatitis B vaccination disparities for West African immigrants.
Journal
Vaccine
ISSN: 1873-2518
Titre abrégé: Vaccine
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 8406899
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 10 2023
06 10 2023
Historique:
received:
10
05
2023
revised:
17
08
2023
accepted:
22
08
2023
medline:
3
10
2023
pubmed:
6
9
2023
entrez:
5
9
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in West Africa. There has been a significant increase in the Bronx West African (WA) community. To achieve HBV elimination, vaccination of non-immune individuals is important. Unfortunately, vaccine uptake in immigrant populations is at this time very limited. An educational program was conducted by medical providers of WA origin in collaboration with local faith-based organizations, after which free HBV screening was offered. Non-immune individuals were initially recommended to contact their medical provider or referred to the Department of Health for vaccination. Beginning in 2021, the program offered vaccination. A questionnaire including reasons for vaccination in the program was offered. Among the first500 individuals screened,34.6 % required vaccination. Among those screened before program vaccine availability, 72.2 % initiated the vaccination series,with38.2 % obtainingit at an outside setting and34 % returning when available through the program.Among patients screened after program vaccineavailability, 92.1 % initiated the series.Of those receiving vaccination in the program and completing the questionnaire,70.7 % had access to care but chose vaccination by the program because of the trust instilled by WA personnel. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating vaccination into an HBV screening program for an immigrant population. It emphasizes the importance of timeliness and cultural sensitivity.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in West Africa. There has been a significant increase in the Bronx West African (WA) community. To achieve HBV elimination, vaccination of non-immune individuals is important. Unfortunately, vaccine uptake in immigrant populations is at this time very limited.
METHODS
An educational program was conducted by medical providers of WA origin in collaboration with local faith-based organizations, after which free HBV screening was offered. Non-immune individuals were initially recommended to contact their medical provider or referred to the Department of Health for vaccination. Beginning in 2021, the program offered vaccination. A questionnaire including reasons for vaccination in the program was offered.
FINDINGS
Among the first500 individuals screened,34.6 % required vaccination. Among those screened before program vaccine availability, 72.2 % initiated the vaccination series,with38.2 % obtainingit at an outside setting and34 % returning when available through the program.Among patients screened after program vaccineavailability, 92.1 % initiated the series.Of those receiving vaccination in the program and completing the questionnaire,70.7 % had access to care but chose vaccination by the program because of the trust instilled by WA personnel.
INTERPRETATION
Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating vaccination into an HBV screening program for an immigrant population. It emphasizes the importance of timeliness and cultural sensitivity.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37669884
pii: S0264-410X(23)01012-5
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.058
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Hepatitis B Vaccines
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
6255-6260Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.