Project VIVA: a multilevel community-based intervention to increase influenza vaccination rates among hard-to-reach populations in New York City.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether the work of a community-based participatory research partnership increased interest in influenza vaccination among hard-to-reach individuals in urban settings.


METHODS
A partnership of researchers and community members carried out interventions for increasing acceptance of influenza vaccination in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, focusing on hard-to-reach populations (e.g., substance abusers, immigrants, elderly, sex workers, and homeless persons) in East Harlem and the Bronx in New York City. Activities targeted the individual, community organization, and neighborhood levels and included dissemination of information, presentations at meetings, and provision of street-based and door-to-door vaccination during 2 influenza vaccine seasons. Participants were recruited via multiple modalities. Multivariable analyses were performed to compare interest in receiving vaccination pre- and postintervention.


RESULTS
There was increased interest in receiving the influenza vaccine postintervention (P<.01). Being a member of a hard-to-reach population (P=.03), having ever received an influenza vaccine (P<.01), and being in a priority group for vaccination (P<.01) were also associated with greater interest in receiving the vaccine.


CONCLUSIONS
Targeting underserved neighborhoods through a multilevel community-based participatory research intervention significantly increased interest in influenza vaccination, particularly among hard-to-reach populations. Such interventions hold promise for increasing vaccination rates annually and in pandemic situations.
Center for Urban Epidemiological Studies at the New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Micaela H
MH
Coady
Sandro
S
Galea
Shannon
S
Blaney
Danielle C
DC
Ompad
Sarah
S
Sisco
David
D
Vlahov
D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*