Martha P Montgomery1, Yuna Zhong2, Emma Roberts3, Alice Asher2, Danae Bixler2, Mona Doshani2, Aleta Christensen2, Maribeth Eckert4, Mark K Weng2, Monique Carry5, Christina R Samuel2, Eyasu H Teshale2. 1. Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. Electronic address: lwx6@cdc.gov. 2. Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. 3. National Harm Reduction Coalition, 22 West 27th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA. 4. Immunization Services Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. 5. Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Syringe services programs (SSPs) are an important venue for reaching people who inject drugs (PWID) to offer preventive services; however, not all SSPs offer vaccinations. We aimed to describe barriers and opportunities for SSPs to offer vaccinations. METHODS: During June-August 2021, we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey of SSP providers in the United States. SSPs were recruited from national listservs using purposive sampling to ensure geographic diversity. The survey included questions about SSP characteristics, client demographics, existing vaccination resources, resource needs, and staff perspectives on client vaccination barriers. Statistical comparisons were made using Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: In total, 105 SSPs from 34 states responded to the survey; 46 SSPs (43.8%) offered on-site vaccinations. SSPs without on-site vaccinations were more likely operated by community-based organizations (81.4% vs 30.4%, p < 0.001) in urban areas (71.4% vs 40.0%, p = 0.002) than SSPs offering on-site vaccinations. The most common staffing need was for personnel licensed to administer vaccines (74/98, 75.5%). Over half of SSPs reported vaccine supply, administration supplies, storage equipment, and systems to follow-up clients for multidose series as important resource needs. The most common resource need was for reminder/recall systems for vaccines with multidose series (75/92, 81.5%). Vaccine safety concerns (92/95, 96.8%) and competing priorities (92/96, 95.8%) were the most common staff-reported client barriers to vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing missed opportunities for offering vaccinations to PWID who use SSPs will require increased numbers of on-site personnel licensed to administer vaccines and additional training, vaccination supplies, and storage and handling equipment. Published by Elsevier B.V.
BACKGROUND: Syringe services programs (SSPs) are an important venue for reaching people who inject drugs (PWID) to offer preventive services; however, not all SSPs offer vaccinations. We aimed to describe barriers and opportunities for SSPs to offer vaccinations. METHODS: During June-August 2021, we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey of SSP providers in the United States. SSPs were recruited from national listservs using purposive sampling to ensure geographic diversity. The survey included questions about SSP characteristics, client demographics, existing vaccination resources, resource needs, and staff perspectives on client vaccination barriers. Statistical comparisons were made using Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: In total, 105 SSPs from 34 states responded to the survey; 46 SSPs (43.8%) offered on-site vaccinations. SSPs without on-site vaccinations were more likely operated by community-based organizations (81.4% vs 30.4%, p < 0.001) in urban areas (71.4% vs 40.0%, p = 0.002) than SSPs offering on-site vaccinations. The most common staffing need was for personnel licensed to administer vaccines (74/98, 75.5%). Over half of SSPs reported vaccine supply, administration supplies, storage equipment, and systems to follow-up clients for multidose series as important resource needs. The most common resource need was for reminder/recall systems for vaccines with multidose series (75/92, 81.5%). Vaccine safety concerns (92/95, 96.8%) and competing priorities (92/96, 95.8%) were the most common staff-reported client barriers to vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing missed opportunities for offering vaccinations to PWID who use SSPs will require increased numbers of on-site personnel licensed to administer vaccines and additional training, vaccination supplies, and storage and handling equipment. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Authors: Angela R Bazzi; Alicia Harvey-Vera; Tara Buesig-Stamos; Daniela Abramovitz; Carlos F Vera; Irina Artamonova; Thomas L Patterson; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: Addict Sci Clin Pract Date: 2022-09-05