Reducing Racial Disparities in Influenza Vaccination Among Children With Asthma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Primary Care
• Immunization Practices
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Asthma affects numerous children, increasing their risk for influenza complications.
• Low influenza vaccination rates remain a concern in pediatric populations, particularly among minority groups.
• Targeted interventions are needed to improve vaccine uptake in high-risk pediatric groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention on influenza vaccination rates in children with asthma.
• To assess whether the intervention reduced disparities in vaccination rates based on race.

Main Methods:

• A pre/post study design was employed across 18 primary care practices.
• The intervention involved the "4 Pillars Immunization Toolkit" and additional strategies.
• Influenza vaccination rates were compared before and after the intervention period (2 years), analyzing overall and race-specific data.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in influenza vaccination rates were observed in 13 out of 18 practices.
• Vaccination rates for non-White children rose from 46% to 61% (p < .01).
• Vaccination rates for White children increased from 58% to 65% (p < .001), and pre-intervention racial disparities were eliminated.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive, evidence-based intervention effectively increased influenza vaccination uptake in children with asthma.
• The intervention successfully mitigated racial disparities in influenza vaccination rates.
• This strategy holds promise for improving immunization coverage in vulnerable pediatric populations.