 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Harold Levine, Levine and Company, 340 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022, 212-688-6671, hslev@aol.com and Scott D. Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES, Department of Health Behavior and Education, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, 323C Rosenau Hall, Campus Box #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440.
Introduction: Studies continue to show that the majority of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States remain unvaccinated against hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) despite the ready availability of safe and effective vaccines for both diseases. A review of past and current community-based vaccination efforts may offer insights that could inform future vaccination efforts.
Methods: Examining over a dozen urban community-based HAV and HBV vaccination efforts, including vaccination programs in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Denver, Houston and South Florida, a hypothesized triadic model of vaccination and a compilation of lessons learned are presented that can provide insight to improve vaccination efforts among MSM.
Results: The triadic model of vaccination includes: 1) a supply of vaccine; 2) the promotion of the vaccine and vaccination services; and, 3) a delivery channel for vaccination. Ten lessons learned were identified. Among the lessons identified, success of the promotion and delivery of these vaccines to MSM may be faciltiated by: a thorough understanding of the local gay community and its subgroups, creative community partnerships that include local LGBT clinics or organizations, provider education focusing on reimbursement, the integration of vaccination into other healthcare services, and a client-focused approach that promotes open communication and risk disclosure. Findings also suggest that vaccination services need not be free if other facilitators are in place.
Conclusions: An urgent need exists to facilitate HAV and HBV vaccination among MSM. This study highlights community-level facilitators and barriers to vaccination promotion and vaccine delivery that may lead to improved vaccination efforts and thus increased vaccination rates among MSM communities.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Gay Men, Hepatitis B
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.