Most Flu Shot Plans Do Not Address How To Vaccinate Hard-To-Reach Populations

According to a new study by the New York Academy of Medicine, most flu immunisation plans in the United States do not address how to vaccinate hard-to-reach (HTR) populations. HTR populations include undocumented immigrants, substance users, minorities, homebound elderly and the homeless.

According to the article, HTR populations in the United States are substantial, including approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants, 1.5 million injection drug users, and 744,000 homeless people. Researchers predict that a pandemic or avian flu will spread faster and could lead to masses of people becoming ill during an outbreak if these large HTR segments of the population are left unvaccinated.

According to the article, the authors of the study offer several strategies for increasing immunisation coverage among HTR populations. Some of the strategies include:

• Distributing vaccines in unconventional sites, such as needle-exchange programmes and on street corners that are familiar locations to HTR people;
• Patient reminders, in the form of computer-automated mailings and autodial telephone messages; and
• Increased flu vaccination for healthcare workers.