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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Harold S. Levine, BA, 340 East 55th Street, 5D, Levine & Partners, Inc., 340 East 55th Street, 5D, New York, NY NY, 10022, hslev@aol.com

Despite longstanding recommendations that MSM be vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, research shows that less than half of the country's MSM population has been vaccinated.

During summer 2005, a consortium of agencies implemented a city-wide program in Chicago to promote hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination among MSM. The program included advertising (print, online, transit), a website, collateral materials (brochures, posters, palmcards), person-to-person outreach and vaccination at Gay Pride festivals.

To judge the efficacy of the program, Chicago-based members of Gay.com were surveyed in three waves: just prior to the start of the program, two weeks after the end, and then three months after the end of the program. In addition, data was gathered on the number of vaccinations delivered at the Pride Festivals and providers around the city were interviewed as to the effects of the campaign on their patients and practices.

The online survey showed a doubling increase in the number of respondents who had received information on hepatitis and a significant increase in respondents who had initiated discussions with their healthcare providers and who made an appointment or got vaccinated. 800 doses of vaccine were delivered at the Pride Festivals and all providers interviewed reported an increase in interest in vaccination among their MSM patients.

This presentation will discuss the formation of the Hep Team consortium, illustrate the promotional materials developed for the campaign, discuss the challenges of managing an intensive, short-term promotional program and discuss in detail the results of the online surveys.

Learning Objectives: