Bringing COVID-19 vaccine to medically underserved populations utilizing a community-guided mobile vaccine program.

Between March 23, 2021, and December 31, 2022, the Mobile Vaccine Program (MVP) vaccinated 5044 individuals from medically-underserved communities in Middle Tennessee identified through and guided by a collaboration of local community agencies. The primary objective of the MVP was to vaccinate individuals for COVID-19 who had barriers to traditional mass vaccine strategies through community-guided strategies and partnerships. Three strategies were developed and implemented with community partners and their affiliated community health workers (CHWs). The strategies included pop-up vaccination clinics at community partner events, CHW-guided door-to-door in-home vaccination, and community partner-initiated homebound referrals for vaccination.

Effect of pharmacist intervention on herpes zoster vaccination in community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of community pharmacy-based interventions in increasing vaccination rates for the herpes zoster vaccine. DESIGN: Prospective intervention study with a pre-post design. SETTING: Three independent community pharmacies in Tennessee, from December 2007 to June 2008. PATIENTS: Patients whose pharmacy profiles indicated that they were eligible for the vaccine and patients presenting to receive the vaccine at study sites. INTERVENTION: Pharmacists promoted the herpes zoster vaccine through a press release published in local newspapers, a flyer accompanying each prescription dispensed at participating pharmacies, and a personalized letter mailed to patients whose pharmacy profiles indicated that they were eligible for the vaccine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of vaccination rates for the herpes zoster vaccine during the control and intervention periods and patients' indication for their sources of education and influence in receiving the vaccine. RESULTS: Vaccination rates increased from 0.37% (n = 59 of 16,121) during the control period to 1.20% (n = 193 of 16,062) during the intervention period ( P < 0.0001). Cochran-Armitage trend analyses, including the months before and after the interventions, confirmed a significantly higher vaccination rate during the intervention month than other months analyzed. More patients indicated that they were educated about the herpes zoster vaccine by one of the pharmacist-driven interventions than by a physician, family/friend, or other source during the intervention period ( P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Also, more patients were influenced to receive the vaccination as a result of one of the pharmacist-driven interventions than influenced by a physician ( P = 0.0260) or other source ( P < 0.0001). No difference in the effectiveness of patient influence was found when the pharmacy interventions were compared with family/friends ( P = 0.1025). CONCLUSION: Three pharmacist-driven interventions were effective in increasing vaccination rates for the herpes zoster vaccine.