ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: During COVID-19 pandemic, low-income communities have experienced higher levels of morbidity and mortality as well as increased vaccination hesitancy and lower vaccination rates compared to high-income communities. Primary care centers in underserved communities are essential, as they serve as health promotion and prevention centers for these communities. In this study, we aimed to calculate the COVID-19 vaccination rates in an underserved primary care community center and to objectively characterize this patient population in order to provide evidence for future communitarian interventions. METHODS: Retrospective medical records review of patients that were seen by a primary care provider admitted between January 1st and December 15th, 2021 at Burgdorf clinic, Trinity Health, Hartford, CT. Demographics, baseline comorbidities, vaccination status, number of vaccines received, and last encounter date within our network were recorded. Fisher's exact test was performed to analyze differences in proportions between groups of categorical variables. A univariate logistic regression analysis was used to indicate the association between vaccination status and demographical variables in our population. RESULTS: A total of 1630 patients were admitted/seen in our clinic as part of primary care visit (Age 54.17 years [SD 15.49];60.5% females;African American 70.9%). Most of the patients had their last encounter date on the last quarter of 2021, n=1286 (78.9%). From these, 649 ( 50.5%) were unvaccinated, 136 (10.6%) partially vaccinated, and 501 (39.0%) fully vaccinated. From the fully vaccinated patients 134 (26.7%) received a booster shot. Vaccination rates differed dramatically between age categories, see Graph 1. After the adjusted logistic regression there was a positive association between age category and increased vaccination rates (25-44 years, OR=0.94, 95% CI [0.51-1.75];45-64 years, OR=2.16, 95% CI [1.18-3.95], >65 years OR=2.72, 95% CI [1.44-5.12], p< 0.001, reference 18-24 years). CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination rates are significantly lower in younger patient's compared to older patients in our primary care center. Communitarian interventions focusing on patients between 18 and 45 years old may improve vaccination rates in underserved communities.