Achieving COVID-19 vaccination equity in South Eastern Metropolitan Victoria, Australia: a population-based study.

Background: We describe COVID-19 first and second vaccine uptake across Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Victoria using southeast metropolitan Melbourne catchment as a case study. We explore key policy and implementation strategies that contributed to equitable uptake. Methods: Population level data within the South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) was used to compare trends in COVID-19 vaccination first and second dose uptake for each of the 11 LGAs in year 2021. Changes in vaccination uptake over the year were reviewed against social and public health measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria and strategies in the SEPHU vaccination program. Findings: By September 2021, 57% of the eligible population in the least disadvantaged LGA, Bayside, had received their second dose vaccination compared to 32% in the most disadvantaged LGA, Greater Dandenong. By end of 2021, the gap had narrowed with 95% in Bayside and 92% in Greater Dandenong having received their second dose. The increase in vaccination uptake for both LGAs was bimodal. Government policies on vaccine eligibility and the opening of mass vaccination sites preceded the first peak in vaccination uptake. Strong community engagement, addressing misinformation, providing culturally appropriate vaccination services and mass outbreaks preceded the second peak in vaccination uptake. Interpretation: Vaccine equity across culturally and economically diverse populations can be achieved through a combination of robust, targeted community engagement, mass deployment of appropriate workforce, vaccination services tailored to cultural needs and sensitivities and accessibility to mass vaccination sites on a backdrop of state-wide policies that incentivise vaccination. Funding: None.

Pediatric Lipid Screening and Treatment in Canada: Practices, Attitudes, and Barriers.

The pediatric lipid screening and treatment practices, attitudes, and perceived barriers of Canadian pediatricians are not known. We sought to evaluate this in a survey of pediatricians through the Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) in March 2019. The survey included an assessment of lipid screening of 9- to 11-year-old youth and a hypothetical case of persistent severe dyslipidemia to ascertain management practices. There were 759 respondents (28% response rate, 759 of 2742), of whom 236 provided outpatient primary care to 9- to 11-year-old youth as part of their routine clinical practice. Among primary care-providing pediatricians, universal lipid screening of healthy 9- to 11-year-old youth most or all of the time was reported by 3% (8 of 230). Reported screening practices most or all of the time were more common for youth with risk factors such as overweight and obesity (54%, 127 of 235) and a family history of premature cardiovascular disease (39%, 85 of 217). Most respondents would refer a child with severe persistent dyslipidemia to dieticians (69%, 152 of 220) and a lipid specialist (64%, 144 of 220) most or all of the time, whereas 7% (16 of 220) would start statin therapy themselves. A lack of Canadian pediatric lipid guidelines was reported as a major barrier for 49% (114 of 233) and minor barrier for 40% (93 of 213). The rate of routine lipid screening of healthy 9- to 11-year-old youth among Canadian primary care-providing pediatricians is low and at odds with current US guidelines. This discrepancy may be due at least in part to a lack of Canadian guidelines on pediatric dyslipidemia, the development of which may address certain perceived barriers and influence future attitudes.

Pharmacare in Canada: The paediatric perspective.

Canada's drug insurance system is one of the most expensive in the world, yet millions of Canadians still struggle to access necessary medications. As a result, provincial, territorial, and federal governments are considering public pharmacare policy proposals to ensure that all Canadians can access the medications they need. Pharmacare policies offer an opportunity to prioritize children and youth, whose unique drug needs have long been neglected. Prescription drug use is common in this population, with approximately half of Canadian children and youth requiring at least one prescription in any given year. Drug use remains concentrated, however, among those with complex, chronic, and serious diseases. Children and youth rely heavily on compounded and off-label prescription drugs, which impacts safety, efficacy, palatability, and cost. Reimbursement decision-making bodies do not appropriately value the unique benefits of paediatric drugs, including child-friendly formulations, improved quality of life for children and families, and cost-savings outside the healthcare system. Regardless of the pharmacare model ultimately implemented, ensuring universal, comprehensive, and portable prescription drug coverage for all children and youth is essential. To accomplish this, paediatric drug experts should develop a national, evidence-informed formulary of paediatric drugs. Health Canada should also improve processes to make commercial paediatric drugs and child-friendly formulations more available and accessible. The federal government must also support paediatric drug research and development to this end.

The rate of sexually transmitted infections in ED patients with vaginal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoea (NG) is crucial in reducing complications. Vaginal bleeding (VB) has been suggested as a possible presentation of STI. OBJECTIVE: To identify the rate of STI in sexually active women presenting to the emergency department (ED) with VB. METHODS: Prospective observational study of females 18-55 years-old presenting to two affiliated urban EDs with VB (convenience sample). Patients with recent STI or antibiotic use (< 3 months) were excluded. To estimate the background rate of STI, we enrolled women with no genitourinary complaints as controls. Specimens for CT and NG were obtained during speculum exam from cases and by self administered vaginal swab in controls. All specimens were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Continuous data was presented as mean +/- standard deviation and categorical data as percentages with 95% confidence intervals CI). Fisher's exact test was used to compare the rate of STI between the groups. RESULTS: From 09.06 to 08.07 a total 273 subjects were enrolled (174 VB and 99 controls, mean age: 33 +/- 10). Groups were similar with regards to baseline characteristics. The majority of STI cases were due to CT: 5.8% in VB group (95% CI, 3.2%-10.4%) vs. 7.1% in controls (95% CI, 3.5%-14.0%). The STI rate was 6.3% (95% CI, 3.5%-11.1%) in VB patients and 8% (95% CI, 3.9%-15.3%) in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our ED patients with and without vaginal bleeding had comparable rate of STI.