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Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Case Study
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) oversees programs and services for older adults through the aging service network, and worked closely with the COVID-19 command center during the COVID-19 pandemic. EOEA worked with senior affordable housing providers and advocated for vaccines for older adult populations. They also used their network to disseminate COVID-19 information to older adults, caregivers, and those working directly with older adults.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Peer Review Study, Summary Report/Recommendations
The guidance outlined in this report provides a roadmap for the ethical inclusion of pregnant women’s experiences in in the development and deployment of vaccines against emerging viruses. Recommendations include bolstering health information surveillance systems, stakeholder engagement with health care, women, families and communities, and changing the narrative about pregnancy and clinical research efforts. Recommendations require commitment of financial resources, addressing inequities in public health and whenever possible, the inclusion of perspectives of pregnant women. Lastly, the authors recommend that “When there is a limited supply of vaccine against a pathogenic threat that disproportionately affects pregnant women, their offspring, or both, or when only one vaccine among several is appropriate for use in pregnancy, then pregnant women should be among the priority groups to be offered the vaccine.” This prioritization process is key to addressing inequities and are guidance for future pandemic response efforts.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
In this report, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) discusses maternal immunizations best practices, as well as gaps to implementation recommendations. One recommendation includes focusing efforts to improve financing for immunization services during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Public health and health care partners can support efforts promoting new payment and delivery models, patient-centered medical homes, and accountable care organizations. NVAC also recommends partnering with professional organizations and other maternal immunization stakeholders to develop toolkits and guidance for improving processes.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
There are widespread concerns that ethnic minorities and migrants may have inadequate access to COVID-19 vaccines. Improving vaccine uptake among these vulnerable groups is important towards controlling the spread of COVID-19 and reducing unnecessary mortality. The data from this systematic review shows that low confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among Black ethnic minorities driven by mistrust and safety concerns led to high vaccine hesitancy in this group. For migrants, convenience factors such as language barriers, fear of deportation, and reduced physical access to COVID-19 vaccines. Building trust, reducing physical barriers and improving communication transparency about vaccine development through healthcare workers, and religious and community leaders can improve access and facilitate uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines among ethnic minority and migrant communities.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Peer Review Study
This study aimed to determine independent community pharmacist preparedness for COVID-19 vaccination and to identify strategies for COVID-19 vaccination implementation in Pennsylvania. Through surveys and focus groups these recommendations emerged: (1) working with community partners to support off-site mass vaccination clinics, (2) leverage partnerships with community organizations and universities to support staffing for vaccination efforts, (3) use an appointment-based immunization model, (4) use existing scheduling tools, text messaging, and automated phone calls for second-dose reminders, and (5) further training and process improvements to support vaccine documentation and transmission to the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
In the United States, mobile health clinics are an important method for delivering high quality care to medically underserved populations. To address declining vaccination coverage among young children in Boston during the pandemic, Mattapan Community Health Center (Mattapan) and Codman Square Health Center (Codman Square) partnered with the Kraft Center for Community Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers to deploy a pediatric mobile health clinic as an adjunct to their in-person clinical services.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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Peer Review Study
This article presents findings from a study that assessed published COVID-19 vaccine allocation plans for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 64 jurisdictions. The analysis reflects assessments of the plans between November 2020 and March 2021. The authors question whether the plans prioritized zip codes based on calculated disadvantage indices, which are based on area-level indicators (e.g., U.S. Census data). By the end of the period under investigation, 37 jurisdictions had adopted disadvantage scales. Key themes include: (1) Prioritizing disadvantaged groups, (2) Defining priority groups or areas, (3) Tailoring outreach and communication, (4) Planning the location of dispensing sites, and (5) Monitoring receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The article presents strategies of how Durham County Department of Public Health operationalized equity into multiple phases of its COVID-19 response through infrastructure changes and how to apply these methods to future public health emergencies to better serve vulnerable populations. This response relied upon robust data collection of demographic data to identify inequities. Infrastructure changes included standing up multiple COVID-19 Task Forces (Homeless, Community, Food Security, African American) and Strike Teams (Long-Term Care Facility, Clusters) targeting vulnerable populations; placing testing sites in targeted locations; collaborating with multisector and community partners for feedback; and providing Health Ambassadors for in-person dissemination of COVID-19 information. The paper reviews results from these interventions and lessons learned.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article reviews systemic factors affecting low income immigrant communities during COVID-19 and provides recommendations strategies to improve public health infrastructure using the Public Health 3.0 concept. This high-risk community represented a large portion of essential workers, who even before the pandemic faced less access to health care and were structurally marginalized. The authors discuss equity strategies including prioritizing COVID-19 public relief funds and allocating testing and vaccines to these communities. The paper also reviews how to improve public health infrastructure to mitigate disparities immigrant communities face by addressing social determinants of health, communicating about and structuring policies and programs that do not require identification, engaging cross-sector stakeholders, and developing tools to collect relevant, appropriate data.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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Key Informant Interview
The director of the Black Hawk County Public Health Department in Iowa shares her thoughts on best practices for community engagement and public health leadership in this Q and A with The Kresge Foundation. The conversation is geared towards her experiences dealing with a highly segregated community and varying needs during COVID-19.