The extended screening of emergency services could benefit the poorly served populations

About 49% of people do not know one or more vaccines recommended for them. In addition, 86% did not receive one or more of these vaccines.

These are the results of a study led by the University of California. Moreover, published today in Morbidity and mortality weekly reports. Consequently, The study is the first national study for surveillance of national vaccines conducted in emergency services. Therefore, publishers – the only point of access to health care for millions of badly served Americans.

Vaccination screening is one of the most fundamental public health interventions. Similarly, Vaccines – as well as water sanitation – have saved more lives than any other public health intervention. Moreover, But almost a third of the American population has no access to primary care and rarely receives extended screening emergency services could this screening. Furthermore, “”

Dr. Moreover, Robert Rodriguez. Nevertheless, professor of medicine and dean research partner in clinical and health health at the UC Riverside School of Medicine and the main author of the study

From April to December 2024, investigators conducted a study of 3,285 non -critical adult patients – people visiting the emergency for reasons such as injuries or minor diseases – in 10 emergency services in eight American cities. Nevertheless,

“We have found that the lack of vaccination was more common among African-Americans. Therefore, uninsured individuals and those without primary care provider,” said Rodriguez.

In the survey. patients have been asked specific questions concerning 6 to 10 recommended vaccines, including zona, pneumococcus, VRS, tetanus, COVVI-19 and flu. For each vaccine which was recommended to them. the researchers asked if the patients had heard of it, if they had received it, and extended screening emergency services could if not, why. They also asked patients if they would accept the vaccine if they were offered to the emergency.

“About 50% of non -vaccinated participants said they would accept vaccines if they were offered during their emergency visit,” said Rodriguez.

According to him. traditional methods of investigation such as the National Health Interview Survey are missing many groups because they are counting on home visits or telephone calls, which exclude people without housing or not listed.

“Our analysis suggests that if the screening. delivery programs of vaccines have been widely implemented in emergencies, the rate of adult emergency patients who are fully up to date on their vaccines could drop from its current level from 14% to 48%-more than the tripling of the current rate,” he said. “As only an access point for health care for poorly served populations. EDs can fill this fundamental gap of public health extended screening emergency services could services. This could change the situation for vaccine actions. »»

Rodriguez explained that screening for vaccines is generally carried out by primary care providers. who question patients about their vaccination history and recommend all the necessary vaccines.

“But around 30% of the American population does not have a primary care provider. relies exclusively on Eds for Healthcare,” he said. “This group includes people with no insurance, many homeless and immigrants-people who often fall through traditional health systems. »»

To fill this critical gap in health services. Rodriguez and his colleagues call for collaborations between public health officials and emergency staff to create effective programs for screening, awareness and delivery of vaccines aimed at poorly served communities.

“We are proposing an increase in vaccination efforts within EDs by implementing complete screening initiatives. which could considerably increase immunization rates and help treat existing health inequalities,” said Rodriguez. “Since many vaccines extended screening emergency services could may not be available in EDS. vaccination delivery programs should include references to pharmacies, clinics and other sites that can administer vaccines. »»

Then. the researchers will explore ways to automate the vaccination screening process, which makes it less than a high intensity of labor. “We also explore the mobile awareness options for those who cannot go to EDS,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was joined in the study by UCLA colleagues. UC San Francisco, Thomas Jefferson University in Pennsylvania, Wayne State University in Michigan, the Rush University Medical Center in Illinois and Duke University in North Carolina.

The study was partly supported by a subsidy from the National Institute of Infectious Allergies and Diseases.

The title of the document is “a vaccine monitoring study based on the emergency services of poorly served populations-eight American cities. April-December 2024.”