News
Call for Community-Driven Equity in Flu Vaccination
- By: USAging
- On: 10/09/2020 10:44:03
- In: Hot Topics in Aging
Flu vaccines have never been more important than they are this year. Though, inequity in flu vaccination among people of color— especially for older adults and people with chronic illnesses—is large and growing. The National Minority Quality Forum's Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) announced a major effort to promote flu vaccination in communities of color as racial and ethnic disparities persist in the face of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
SHC assembled researchers, clinicians and community leaders to review the status of flu vaccine equity and the impact of COVID-19 and to recommend strategies for optimally protecting communities of color from influenza.
The report found that flu vaccine racial and ethnic disparities persist in the Medicare program and have widened in nursing homes over the last 20 years. In addition, although many fail to understand the safety and effectiveness of the flu vaccine and how dangerous the flu can be, strategies involving health care teams and community leaders can make a significant difference.
As part of its efforts, SHC has developed a number of resources and projects to translate the recommendations into action, including an online toolkit for communities to use in implementing flu vaccine strategies.