First name
Malini
Middle name
B
Last name
DeSilva

Title

Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage for Newcomer Communities: The Importance of Disaggregation by Language.

Year of Publication

2023

Number of Pages

Date Published

04/2023

ISSN Number

1476-1645

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected refugee, immigrant, and migrant populations. Vaccines are essential for decreasing transmission and severity of COVID-19 infection. Understanding differences in vaccination coverage based on preferred language is crucial for focusing efforts to decrease COVID-19-related disparities. Four sites in the Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health collaboratively evaluated completion of primary COVID-19 vaccination series on or before December 31, 2021, for patients who were 12 years or older on June 30, 2021, by preferred language. The non-English/non-Spanish speaking population included 46,714 patients who spoke 174 languages; COVID-19 vaccination coverage by language ranged from 26.2% to 88.0%. Stratifying vaccination coverage by specific language is a critical first step toward dismantling disparities and shaping interventions that best meet the needs of communities served.

DOI

10.4269/ajtmh.22-0724

Alternate Title

Am J Trop Med Hyg

PMID

37068751
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Title

Hepatitis B Evaluation and Linkage to Care for Newly Arrived Refugees: A Multisite Quality Improvement Initiative.

Year of Publication

2020

Number of Pages

Date Published

2020 Jul 25

ISSN Number

1557-1920

Abstract

<p>A quality improvement collaborative evaluated Hepatitis B virus (HBV) care for resettled refugees and identified strategies to enhance care. 682 of the 12,934 refugees from five refugee health clinics in Colorado, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania had chronic HBV. Timely care was defined relative to a HBsAg + result: staging (HBV DNA, hepatitis Be antigen, hepatitis Be antibody, alanine transaminase testing) within 14&nbsp;days, comorbid infection screening (hepatitis C virus and HIV) within 14&nbsp;days, and linkage to care (HBV specialist referral within 30&nbsp;days and visit within 6&nbsp;months). Completed labs included: HBV DNA (93%), hepatitis Be antigen (94%), hepatitis Be antibody (92%), alanine transaminase (92%), hepatitis C screening (86%), HIV screening (97%). 20% had HBV specialist referrals within 30&nbsp;days; 36% were seen within 6&nbsp;months. Standardized reflex HBV testing and specialist referral should be prioritized at the initial screening due to the association with timely care.</p>

DOI

10.1007/s10903-020-01058-7

Alternate Title

J Immigr Minor Health

PMID

32712852
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