Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109857

Danielle C. Ompad, PhD, Shannon Blaney, MPH, Sarah Sisco, MPH, MSSW, David Vlahov, PhD, Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH, and for the VIVA Intervention Working Group Of the Harlem Community and Academic Partnership. Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-419-3589, dompad@nyam.org

Objective: To assess awareness of the 2004-2005 national influenza vaccine shortage and evaluate vaccine access among the general community and high-risk groups in East Harlem and the Bronx. Methods: Using venue-based sampling in eight economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods in East Harlem and the Bronx, we collected information about the national flu vaccine shortage using a brief, anonymous survey during October-December 2004. Results: Of 272, most (91.1%) were aware of the vaccine shortage. Most found out about the shortage through television (79.0%), followed by the newspaper (34.8%), word-of-mouth (16.6%), and/or a doctor or health care provider (11.7%). Most attributed the shortage to manufacturer production problems (59.5%); 18.9% said the government did not want to make the vaccine available. Of 245 (90.1%) people medically eligible for a flu shot, 116 (47.7%) had tried to obtain a flu shot and 26 (10.6%) had received a vaccination since October 2004. Among the 100 (40.8%) persons at high risk for complications from the flu, 64 (64.0%) tried to get vaccinated and 21 (21.0%) actually received a flu shot. Conclusions: These results suggest that knowledge of the vaccine shortage was widespread. More than half of medically eligible individuals and one-third of those at risk for complications did not try to get the vaccine. Few people had been vaccinated, both among the general community and among high risk groups. Compared to national estimates from the CDC, overall vaccination rates were lower in this population suggesting that economically-disadvantaged communities would benefit from focused vaccination efforts in times of mass shortage.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Discuss the correlates of influenza vaccination access in eight neighborhoods in East Harlem and Bronx.
• Describe sources and levels of knowledge about the national vaccine shortage in eight East Harlem and Bronx neighborhoods.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Community-Based Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation