Abstract
The US Virgin Islands Zika health brigade: An opportunity for enhanced COVID-19 public health support
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
In 2016 – 2018, a Zika virus outbreak occurred in US Virgin Islands (USVI) leading to birth defects in babies born to mothers who experienced Zika virus infection (ZIKV) during pregnancy, which increased demand for pediatric medical care for these infants. During 2017, USVI also experienced two category 5 hurricanes that caused disruption of needed medical services, especially specialty care for children. Due to challenges in access to the recommended screenings for infants exposed to ZIKV in utero, CDC was asked to provide support.
Additionally, COVID-19 has further disrupted medical services for children. In 2021, a USVI Zika health brigade occurred serving 176 children from all three islands. The gathering of specialty medical providers and families, some with children with special healthcare needs, provided an opportunity for experts from CDC, USVI Department of health (DOH), and Maternal Child Health (MCH) clinics to educate families about COVID-19. Information about COVID-19 in USVI, the effects of COVID-19 on children with special healthcare needs, and the efficacy, benefits, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines were provided.
CDC COVID-19 team members conducted health promotion activities and implemented a rapid community assessment (RCA) to learn more about the community’s knowledge of and beliefs on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination from July 28, 2021 through August 6, 2021. The RCA surveyed 24 adults, ages 20-76, primarily Caribbean, Black, and non-Hispanic, 13/24 were female. Many of these patients discussed their concerns with the increasing COVID-19 numbers in the territory but concern with the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. Lessons learned from the RCA guided the education given surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations and enabled staff to answer questions, fill knowledge gaps, and refute misinformation during the Zika health brigade and throughout the community. The USVI population includes Spanish and Haitian Creole speakers and people without access to internet and DOH online COVID-19 updates. Outreach was enhanced through in-person outreach and refined messages for Spanish and Haitian Creole speaking subpopulations. Additional education was provided to the MCH clinical staff, in preparation for receipt and administration of COVID-19 vaccinations in approved age groups. Leveraging the preplanned Zika health brigade allowed enhanced outreach for COVID-19, therefore bringing public health services for two devastating illnesses to this population.