Leveraging community concerns regarding meningococcal disease to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in immunization coverage

J Public Health Manag Pract. 2011 Jul-Aug;17(4):E3-8. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0b013e31820070f1.

Abstract

Following the death of 2 adolescents due to serogroup C invasive meningococcal disease (SCIMD) in April 2008, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) observed a high level of concern in 2 Chicago communities inferred to have low meningococcal vaccine (MCV) coverage rates. In response, CDPH promptly mobilized additional resources, administering 5,343 doses of MCV in 40 schools over 2 weeks and immunizing 44% of enrolled students aged 11 to 18 years. The number of eligible students vaccinated per school ranged from 9 to 466 (median, 112) and the proportion of age-eligible students receiving the vaccine ranged from 5% to 87% (median, 52%). The attributes of the SCIMD activity did not meet the definition of a community-based outbreak, but presented an opportunity to promptly intensify existing mechanisms for meningococcal vaccination of adolescents in the affected neighborhoods and overcome traditional barriers to vaccination.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Chicago / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Healthcare Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs / organization & administration*
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control*
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C*
  • Public Health Administration
  • Schools

Substances

  • Meningococcal Vaccines