Vaccinating Men Who Have Sex with Men Against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B in Community-Based Clinics: Experiences from Howard Brown Health Center (Chicago) and Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (New York)

Harold Levine, Levine and Company, 340 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022, 212-688-6671, hslev@aol.com, Beau Gratzer, MPP, Men's Health Promotion and Education, Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60613, and Susan Weigl, BS, Callen Lorde Community Health Center, 356 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10010.

Background: MSM (Men Who Have Sex with Men) are at high risk for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Community-based clinics serving the LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) community represent an important venue for delivering vaccination to MSM patients and for promoting vaccination community-wide.

Objective: To examine the MSM hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination programs at the nation’s top two LGBTI clinics to track vaccination rates, evaluate methods used to promote vaccination, and identify barriers and facilitators to MSM vaccination. Method: Vaccination data was tracked back to the beginning of 2000. Promotional materials were gathered and examined. Provider education was evaluated, as was outreach and training to promote vaccination at venues outside of the clinic. Results: Both programs delivered substantial numbers of vaccinations: over 300 in the best month in NY and over 200 in the best month in Chicago. Standing orders and provider training are vital for the success of the program. Advertising and promotion is useful; outreach by health educators can also be important. Pricing and clinic hours directly affect traffic. Conclusion: A long-term vaccination program at an LGBTI community clinic can be successful in raising the vaccination rates among the patient base, and a vaccination program can bring new community members into the clinic.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Howard Brown Health Center (Chicago), Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (NY)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I have worked to help develop and evaluate the hepatitis vaccination programs at Howard Brown and Callen Lorde, and have worked as a consultant to GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals, one of the companies which manufactures and distributes vaccines against he