RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Accelerating COVID-19 Vaccination Among People Living With HIV and Health Care Workers in Tanzania: A Case Study
JF Global Health: Science and Practice
JO GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT
FD Johns Hopkins University- Global Health. Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs
SP e2300281
DO 10.9745/GHSP-D-23-00281
VO 12
IS 3
A1 Jalloh, Mohamed F.
A1 Tinuga, Florian
A1 Dahoma, Mohamed
A1 Rwebembera, Anath
A1 Kapologwe, Ntuli A.
A1 Magesa, Daniel
A1 Mukurasi, Kokuhabwa
A1 Rwabiyago, Oscar Ernest
A1 Kazitanga, Jaiving
A1 Miller, Angela
A1 Sando, David
A1 Maruyama, Haruka
A1 Mbatia, Redempta
A1 Temu, Florence
A1 Matiko, Eva
A1 Kazaura, Kokuhumbya
A1 Njau, Prosper
A1 Imaa, Jennifer
A1 Pinto, Tara
A1 Nur, Sophia A.
A1 Schaad, Nicolas
A1 Malero, Augustine
A1 Damian, Damian
A1 Grund, Jonathan
A1 Mgomella, George S.
A1 Johnson, Alison
A1 Cole, Gbolahan
A1 Mmari, Eunice
A1 Gatei, Wangeci
A1 Swaminathan, Mahesh
YR 2024
UL http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/12/3/e2300281.abstract
AB Key MessagesQuickly leveraging an existing partnership model for HIV health services was essential in scaling up COVID-19 vaccination uptake among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and health care workers (HCWs) in Tanzania.Engaging HCWs to address their COVID-19 vaccination concerns and increasing their vaccination uptake was a critical first step to improving vaccination uptake among PLHIV who may have been hesitant to get vaccinated.Creating COVID-19 vaccination points within HIV clinics made it convenient for PLHIV, their families, and people in their networks to get vaccinated, which likely helped to increase uptake and reduce missed opportunities for vaccination.Key ImplicationsOur experience suggests that integrating vaccination promotion and vaccination service delivery into a unified intervention delivered by credible HCWs is a promising approach for scaling up vaccination uptake in high-risk populations during health emergencies.Empowering HCWs to make certain localized decisions during emergency response efforts could result in simple and context-appropriate innovations, as observed when HCWs avoided vaccine wastage within their health facilities in Tanzania.Background:There is limited evidence on COVID-19 vaccination uptake among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and health care workers (HCWs), with the current evidence concentrated in high-income countries. There is also limited documentation in the published literature regarding the feasibility and lessons from implementing targeted vaccination strategies to reach PLHIV and HCWs in low- and middle-income countries.Program Development, Piloting, and Implementation:We designed and implemented multifaceted strategies to scale up targeted COVID-19 vaccination among PLHIV and HCWs in 11 administrative regions on the mainland of Tanzania plus Zanzibar. An initial 6-week intensification strategy was implemented using a diverse partnership model comprising key stakeholders at the national- and subnational levels. A layered package of strategies included expanding the number of certified vaccinators, creating vaccination points within HIV clinics, engaging HCWs to address their concerns, and building the capacity of HCWs as “champions” to promote and facilitate vaccination. We then closely monitored COVID-19 vaccination uptake in 562 high-volume HIV clinics. Between September 2021 and September 2022, the proportion of fully vaccinated adult PLHIV increased from <1% to 97% and fully vaccinated HCWs increased from 23% to 80%.Lessons and implications:Our intra-action review highlighted the importance of leveraging a strong foundation of existing partnerships and platforms, integrating COVID-19 vaccination points within HIV clinics, and refining strategies to increase vaccination demand while ensuring continuity of vaccine supply to meet the increased demand. Lessons from Tanzania can inform targeted vaccination of vulnerable groups in future health emergencies.