RESUMO
The COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Oversight (CVPO) program was implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure the proper management and administration of COVID-19 vaccines by healthcare providers participating in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program. As part of the CVPO program, the 64 CDC-funded immunization program awardees conducted site visits with participating healthcare providers. We evaluated healthcare provider adherence to CVPO program requirements between May 2021 and May 2023. CVPO program site visit data was collected using a REDCap database. The proportion of site visits conducted by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) region was calculated. Chi-square statistics for healthcare provider compliance with CVPO program requirements were presented to assess variation in compliance by provider type. The proportion of healthcare providers receiving a site visit ranged from 7.9 % to 37.2 % across HHS regions. Healthcare provider compliance was high for COVID-19 vaccine preparation, administration, and error reporting categories (>90 %). Healthcare provider compliance was lowest for vaccine storage and handling and reporting requirements (79.9 % and 82.6 %, respectively). Public health providers demonstrated significantly higher overall compliance as compared to all other included healthcare provider types (p-value < 0.05). The observed high healthcare provider compliance, coupled with thorough follow-up efforts by awardees to address any non-compliance concerns, highlights the success of jurisdictions supporting healthcare providers with proper vaccine management, administration, and safety procedures. Further research can strengthen vaccine storage, handling, and administration practices for future widespread vaccination efforts.
RESUMO
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Transmission of the virus most commonly occurs through the fecal-oral route after close contact with an infected person. Widespread outbreaks of hepatitis A among persons who use illicit drugs (injection and noninjection drugs) have increased in recent years (1). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine hepatitis A vaccination for children and persons at increased risk for infection or severe disease, and, since 1996, has recommended hepatitis A vaccination for persons who use illicit drugs (2). Vaccinating persons who are at-risk for HAV infection is a mainstay of the public health response for stopping ongoing person-to-person transmission and preventing future outbreaks (1). In response to a large hepatitis A outbreak in West Virginia, an analysis was conducted to assess total hepatitis A-related medical costs during January 1, 2018-July 31, 2019, among West Virginia Medicaid beneficiaries with a confirmed diagnosis of HAV infection. Among the analysis population, direct clinical costs ranged from an estimated $1.4 million to $5.6 million. Direct clinical costs among a subset of the Medicaid population with a diagnosis of a comorbid substance use disorder ranged from an estimated $1.0 million to $4.4 million during the study period. In addition to insight on preventing illness, hospitalization, and death, the results from this study highlight the potential financial cost jurisdictions might incur when ACIP recommendations for hepatitis A vaccination, especially among persons who use illicit drugs, are not followed (2).
