title: Efficiency of points of dispensing for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination, Los Angeles County, California, USA, 2009.
abstract: During October 23-December 8, 2009, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health used points of dispensing (PODs) to improve access to and increase the number of vaccinations against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. We assessed the efficiency of these units and access to vaccines among ethnic groups. An average of 251 persons per hour (SE 65) were vaccinated at the PODs; a 10% increase in use of live-attenuated monovalent vaccines reduced that rate by 23 persons per hour (SE 7). Vaccination rates were highest for Asians (257/10,000 persons), followed by Hispanics (114/10,000), whites (75/100,000), and African Americans (37/10,000). Average distance traveled to a POD was highest for whites (6.6 miles; SD 6.5) and lowest for Hispanics (4.7 miles; SD ±5.3). Placing PODs in areas of high population density could be an effective strategy to reach large numbers of persons for mass vaccination, but additional PODs may be needed to improve coverage for specific populations.
authors.forename: Shubhayu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teutsch
authors.forename: Rebekah H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Borse
authors.forename: Martin I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: Deeann
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bagwell
authors.forename: Alonzo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plough
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fielding
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015141:Los Angeles; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: California; H1N1; United States; access; immunization; influenza; influenza A(H1N1)pdm09; mass vaccination; pH1N1; pandemic; points of dispensing; throughput; vaccination; vaccine