Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in Louisiana
Introduction: The first case of mpox in Louisiana was identified 2 months ahead of Southern Decadence Festival in New Orleans, the largest LGBTQ+ Pride festival in the South. With mpox case numbers reflecting racial disparities, the objective was to mount an equitable vaccination response. Methods:...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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Series: | AJPM Focus |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065424000233 |
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author | Arundhati Bakshi, PhD John McClure, BS Theresa Sokol, MPH Lee Mendoza, PhD Arun Adhikari, PhD Nancy Zhao, MPH Suryatapa Kar, MPH Jimmy Gale, BS Javone Davis Charles, MPH Kyle Freese, PhD, MPH Ousswa Kudia, MPH Sara Brown, MPH |
author_facet | Arundhati Bakshi, PhD John McClure, BS Theresa Sokol, MPH Lee Mendoza, PhD Arun Adhikari, PhD Nancy Zhao, MPH Suryatapa Kar, MPH Jimmy Gale, BS Javone Davis Charles, MPH Kyle Freese, PhD, MPH Ousswa Kudia, MPH Sara Brown, MPH |
author_sort | Arundhati Bakshi, PhD |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Introduction: The first case of mpox in Louisiana was identified 2 months ahead of Southern Decadence Festival in New Orleans, the largest LGBTQ+ Pride festival in the South. With mpox case numbers reflecting racial disparities, the objective was to mount an equitable vaccination response. Methods: The Louisiana Department of Health rapidly pivoted its COVID-19 resources and strategies—specifically, using vaccine strike teams and mobile events, in-state vaccine redistribution through centralized warehousing and shipping support, and community partnerships—to now control mpox transmission. Here, the authors have evaluated state-based Immunization Information System data to examine whether the vaccination response was geographically and racially equitable. Geographic equity was measured by taking into account vaccine availability as well as uptake in areas with high Social Vulnerability Index. Results: A total of 113 providers were enrolled in the vaccination program, and 96 mobile vaccination events were held in locations frequented by at-risk populations. Racial disparities among vaccine recipients decreased over time, and vaccine availability and uptake were equitable in areas with high Social Vulnerability Indices. However, Black, female, and Hispanic/Latinx patients had significantly higher risk of not completing the 2-dose series than their counterparts. Conclusions: The mpox vaccination response in Louisiana was geographically equitable, though some demographic disparities remained. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:11:15Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-3c1892ed5fca45e284cfc0d3bebfb56f |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2773-0654 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:11:15Z |
publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
publisher | Elsevier |
record_format | Article |
series | AJPM Focus |
spelling | doaj.art-3c1892ed5fca45e284cfc0d3bebfb56f2024-03-10T05:13:35ZengElsevierAJPM Focus2773-06542024-06-0133100204Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in LouisianaArundhati Bakshi, PhD0John McClure, BS1Theresa Sokol, MPH2Lee Mendoza, PhD3Arun Adhikari, PhD4Nancy Zhao, MPH5Suryatapa Kar, MPH6Jimmy Gale, BS7Javone Davis Charles, MPH8Kyle Freese, PhD, MPH9Ousswa Kudia, MPH10Sara Brown, MPH11Immunization Program, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, Louisiana; Address correspondence to: Arundhati Bakshi, PhD, Immunization Program, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, Louisiana.Immunization Program, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaInfectious Disease Epidemiology, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaBureau of Health Informatics, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaBureau of Health Informatics, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaImmunization Program, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaImmunization Program, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaSTD/HIV Program, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaImmunization Program, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LouisianaSTChealth, Phoenix, ArizonaSTChealth, Phoenix, ArizonaSTChealth, Phoenix, ArizonaIntroduction: The first case of mpox in Louisiana was identified 2 months ahead of Southern Decadence Festival in New Orleans, the largest LGBTQ+ Pride festival in the South. With mpox case numbers reflecting racial disparities, the objective was to mount an equitable vaccination response. Methods: The Louisiana Department of Health rapidly pivoted its COVID-19 resources and strategies—specifically, using vaccine strike teams and mobile events, in-state vaccine redistribution through centralized warehousing and shipping support, and community partnerships—to now control mpox transmission. Here, the authors have evaluated state-based Immunization Information System data to examine whether the vaccination response was geographically and racially equitable. Geographic equity was measured by taking into account vaccine availability as well as uptake in areas with high Social Vulnerability Index. Results: A total of 113 providers were enrolled in the vaccination program, and 96 mobile vaccination events were held in locations frequented by at-risk populations. Racial disparities among vaccine recipients decreased over time, and vaccine availability and uptake were equitable in areas with high Social Vulnerability Indices. However, Black, female, and Hispanic/Latinx patients had significantly higher risk of not completing the 2-dose series than their counterparts. Conclusions: The mpox vaccination response in Louisiana was geographically equitable, though some demographic disparities remained.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065424000233 |
spellingShingle | Arundhati Bakshi, PhD John McClure, BS Theresa Sokol, MPH Lee Mendoza, PhD Arun Adhikari, PhD Nancy Zhao, MPH Suryatapa Kar, MPH Jimmy Gale, BS Javone Davis Charles, MPH Kyle Freese, PhD, MPH Ousswa Kudia, MPH Sara Brown, MPH Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in Louisiana AJPM Focus |
title | Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in Louisiana |
title_full | Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in Louisiana |
title_fullStr | Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in Louisiana |
title_full_unstemmed | Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in Louisiana |
title_short | Pivoting COVID-19 Resources for an Equitable Mpox Vaccine Response in Louisiana |
title_sort | pivoting covid 19 resources for an equitable mpox vaccine response in louisiana |
url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065424000233 |
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