Recommendations for Delivering COVID-19 Vaccine in Jails: Evidence from Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.

We report on data we collected from a 2018 survey examining jails' human papillomavirus virus vaccine delivery capacity and on a secondary analysis we conducted to describe factors similarly associated with delivery planning for the COVID-19 vaccine. We provide recommendations for delivering the COVID-19 vaccine in jails, based on evidence from Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri. Our key finding is that jails have limited staff to implement vaccination and will require collaboration between jail administrators, jail medical staff, and local health departments.

Concomitant HPV and MenACWY vaccination among sixth and seventh graders receiving Tdap.

OBJECTIVE: To describe use of human papilloma virus (HPV) and meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccines among sixth and seventh grade Kansas children receiving their school-required tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster. METHODS: We used Medicaid and commercial claims data in Kansas from 2013, 2014, and 2015 to identify HPV and MenACWY vaccinations among sixth and seventh graders receiving a Tdap booster. Rates of concomitant vaccinations were calculated at the state and county level, and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of concomitant vaccination. RESULTS: Of sixth and seventh graders in Kansas receiving their required Tdap booster, 53-82% failed to receive a concomitant HPV vaccine and 36-47% failed to receive a concomitant MenACWY vaccine from 2013 to 2015. Rates of concomitant vaccinations varied more than four-fold across counties. Female gender, younger age, and Medicaid (versus commercial insurance) were positively associated with concomitant vaccination; concomitant vaccination rates increased from 2013 to 2015 (p < 0.001). Of children continuously enrolled in Medicaid from 2013 to 2015, who did not receive concomitant vaccination in 2013, 72.3% and 68.6% remained unvaccinated against HPV and MenACWY, respectively by the end of 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Failure to get a concomitant vaccination at the time of their Tdap booster identifies children at high risk of not getting immunized in the ensuing 2-3 years. 'Back to school' programs focusing only on school-required vaccinations could have negative impacts on overall vaccination rates. Tracking rates of concomitant vaccination might be useful in supporting quality assessment and improvement efforts. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was not a clinical trial.

High Rate of Treatment Completion in Program Settings With 12-Dose Weekly Isoniazid and Rifapentine for Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection.

Background: Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that the newest latent tuberculosis (LTBI) regimen, 12 weekly doses of directly observed isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP), is as efficacious as 9 months of isoniazid, with a greater completion rate (82% vs 69%); however, 3HP has not been assessed in routine healthcare settings. Methods: Observational cohort of LTBI patients receiving 3HP through 16 US programs was used to assess treatment completion, adverse drug reactions, and factors associated with treatment discontinuation. Results: Of 3288 patients eligible to complete 3HP, 2867 (87.2%) completed treatment. Children aged 2-17 years had the highest completion rate (94.5% [155/164]). Patients reporting homelessness had a completion rate of 81.2% (147/181). In univariable analyses, discontinuation was lowest among children (relative risk [RR], 0.44 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .23-.85]; P = .014), and highest in persons aged ≥65 years (RR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.25-2.35]; P < .001). In multivariable analyses, discontinuation was lowest among contacts of patients with tuberculosis (TB) disease (adjusted RR [ARR], 0.68 [95% CI, .52-.89]; P = .005) and students (ARR, 0.45 [95% CI, .21-.98]; P = .044), and highest with incarceration (ARR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.08-1.89]; P = .013) and homelessness (ARR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.25-2.39]; P = .001). Adverse drug reactions were reported by 1174 (35.7%) patients, of whom 891 (76.0%) completed treatment. Conclusions: Completion of 3HP in routine healthcare settings was greater overall than rates reported from clinical trials, and greater than historically observed using other regimens among reportedly nonadherent populations. Widespread use of 3HP for LTBI treatment could accelerate elimination of TB disease in the United States.

Use of Video Directly Observed Therapy for Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection - Johnson County, Kansas, 2015.

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread from person to person through the air. TB can be spread in congregate settings, such as school environments, to varying degrees, based on factors including duration of contact and air ventilation (1); therefore, evaluating potential contacts and exposures can be challenging. In February 2015, a student at a Kansas high school received a diagnosis of active pulmonary TB disease. Screening of 385 (91%) school contacts, four (100%) household contacts, and 19 (90%) social contacts resulted in the identification of 50 persons with latent TB infection. Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) Public Health Emergency Preparedness personnel used their experience with points of distribution logistics to optimize testing clinic layouts and implement the incident command structure. Open communication with students, school staff members, the public, and the media about the investigation from the outset was imperative to reduce rumors and unease that can accompany a large communicable disease investigation. The large number of persons needing treatment for latent TB overwhelmed JCDHE's two TB nurses. As a result, JCDHE developed a policy and procedure to allow persons who met eligibility requirements to complete 12 weekly doses of isoniazid and rifapentine treatment using video directly observed therapy (VDOT) rather than traditional in-person directly observed therapy (DOT). This procedure facilitated treatment compliance and completion; among the eligible 15 persons who chose the 12-week VDOT option, 14 (93%) completed treatment. State and local health departments might consider use of VDOT to monitor treatment of persons with latent TB infection.