Bronx Health REACH hosted a webinar, "What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?"
"What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" Webinar
Bronx Health REACH hosted a webinar, "What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" Panelists included Dr. Ani Bodoutchian from the NY State Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Bindy Crouch from NYC Dept of Health & Mental Hygiene, Dr. Maria "Masha" Gervits from the Institute of Family Health (IFH) Cadman Health Center, and Dr. Eugene Schiff from IFH Stevenson Health Center. The webinar was moderated by BHR's Moria Byrne-Zaaloff, Program Manager for the Community Vaccine Initiative.
Dr. Ani Budhachan expressed alarm at the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decision changing vaccine guidance, especially around COVID-19, because of the confusion and undermining of public trust that may result. “If vaccines move from being recommended to being optional, will insurance companies continue to cover them?” asked Dr. Budhachan.
Dr. Bindi Crouch was also concerned about whether insurance will cover all vaccinations bringing into question vaccine future affordability. She was able to at least reassure attendees that the vaccine supply of flu, COVID-19, and RSV for the fall is stable. “We're not expecting vaccine shortages,” said Dr. Crouch.
Dr. Maria "Masha" Gervits shared that safety and the need for vaccines during pregnancy are the most common concerns she hears from patients. “Patients often say they’ll wait until after pregnancy to get vaccinated, but vaccines like COVID-19 and flu are essential because they protect both the pregnant person and the baby from serious illness or complications,” said Dr. Gervits.
Dr. Eugene Schiff pointed out that he believes the flu vaccine remains underutilized as many of his patients are asking if vaccines are safe and necessary as they hear conflicting messages from social media and the news. He responds by educating his patients about the benefits of vaccines, as well as the risks of skipping vaccinations. “Vaccines aren’t just about the individual, vaccines protect our families, and our communities, especially those who are most vulnerable,” said Dr. Schiff.
Doula/Perinatal Care Navigator COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Education Pilot
To increase vaccinations for pregnant and breastfeeding women, Bronx Health REACH, in collaboration with the Institute for Family Health’s Perinatal Care Program and Bronx ReBirth and Progress, launched a Doula/Perinatal Care Navigator COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Education project. The doulas and perinatal navigators received training and a toolkit of culturally-responsive approaches to educate pregnant and breastfeeding women about vaccinations. Rooted LLC, a company providing culturally-empowering, holistic doula pre and post-natal physical and mental health services to pregnant and breastfeeding people, developed the training module and toolkit.
Twelve doulas and three care navigators were trained using a person-centered approach that respects patients’ diverse experiences. The doulas, in turn, educated 27 pregnant and breastfeeding women through open, judgment-free conversations during their appointments with their doula. Some doulas voiced initial concerns—especially around high-risk pregnancies—but found that their trusted relationships helped patients better understand vaccine safety.
Clients appreciated the safe space doulas created for them to feel free to discuss their vaccine concerns. Some expressed that they feared judgement from family or felt pressured by providers, but doulas helped them feel heard and empowered to make their own informed choices about vaccinations. Many were surprised to learn that choosing not to vaccinate could jeopardize not only their own health, but that of their their baby’s as well.
Adult Vaccine Communications Campaign
BHR is planning two adult vaccine media campaigns. The first will be launched in the next few days and will provide the needed facts to counter much of the common vaccine misinformation. In the fall, BHR will be rolling out the second which will focus on adults 50 years and older encouraging them to receive their Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis), Shingles, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), and Pneumococcal vaccines. Surveys completed by BHR revealed that Bronx adults 50+ had the lowest rates of vaccines. CauseLab, a media agency that produced previous BHR vaccine campaigns will produce a video and printed material including palm cards and posters, and other media to run on LinkNYC kiosks and social media.
No comments:
Post a Comment