VACCINES, STI SCREENS AND TEENS

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM/QUESTION Societal and cultural barriers that prevent ethnic minorities from achieving health equity include lack of access and misinformation. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among ethnic minorities has limited vaccination rates thus hindering the establishment of herd immunity. Vaccination rates in college students aged 18-24 in New York state (NYS) is high (80%). However, in minority populations, college students are much less likely to be vaccinated with rates of 15% in African Americans (AA) and 21% in Latinx individuals. Access to health care also limits young minority populations from sexual health screenings, contributing to a significantly higher rate of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV infection. One in five people in the United States (US) have a STI, and almost half of new STIs occur in teens aged 15-24, with a disproportionately high percentage occurring in AA. Sexual health education and screenings should therefore be focused on this at risk population. Health inequity is often grounded by multiple historical and personal factors, but access to medical professionals is an important element for intervention. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM/INTERVENTION The Ally Care Center at Westchester Medical Center partnered with a local college in New Rochelle, New York to provide a multi-pronged community event. On July 22, 2021 we conducted a virtual session to address questions for the college community. We subsequently brought our multidisciplinary team of medical providers, case managers and psychologists to the college on five occasions to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and sexual health screenings. MEASURES OF SUCCESS Vaccination rates and STI screening rates FINDINGS TO DATE Over a total of five visits, 109 members of a predominantly minority college population received the first dose of the COVID vaccine and 98 received the second dose indicating an 89.9% rate of full vaccination. This is about 10% higher compared to NYS COVID vaccination rates in the age group 18-24 years which is 80.9% as of November 2021. Vaccination rates with atleast one dose in minority group adults older than 15 years of age are 15% for AA, 14.6% for Asians, and 21% for Latinx. Fourteen students opted for sexual health screenings, of whom two were found to be positive for chlamydia and treated. KEY LESSONS FOR DISSEMINATION Health disparities may in part be driven by medical misinformation and lack of access to healthcare providers. Community level outreach events can ensure that routine preventative health strategies are made available to minority populations. These can be most effective when tackling multiple health care needs. These events also provide an opportunity to address misniformation and cultivate trust in medical professionals.