American journal of preventive medicine
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The Announcement Approach using presumptive announcements increases human papillomavirus vaccine uptake. This study seeks to understand the impact of the final Announcement Approach steps-easing parents' vaccine concerns and then encouraging them to get human papillomavirus vaccine for their children-on parents' human papillomavirus vaccine hesitancy and confidence in the vaccine's benefits. ⋯ Addressing parents' concerns can decrease human papillomavirus vaccine hesitancy and increase confidence. On the basis of these findings, the Announcement Approach retained its emphasis on announcing that children are due for vaccination and easing parent concerns.
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Early childhood vaccination rates are lower in rural areas than those in urban areas of the U.S. This study's objective is to quantify vaccine timeliness and the prevalence of undervaccination patterns in Montana and to measure the associations between timeliness and series completion by age 24 months. ⋯ Fewer than 2 in 5 Montana children were fully vaccinated on time for the combined 7-vaccine series. To increase vaccination rates, initiatives to increase vaccine confidence and remind parents to complete vaccine series are needed.
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The Veterans Choice Program expanded Veteran access to community care. The Veterans Choice Program may negatively impact the receipt of preventive care services owing to care fragmentation. This study assesses 10 measures of preventive care in Veterans with the Department of Veterans Affairs coverage before and after the Veterans Choice Program. ⋯ Veterans with Veterans Affairs coverage and diabetes had an increase in podiatry visits after Veterans Choice Program implementation. There was no evidence that Veterans Choice Program implementation had a negative impact on the receipt of preventive care services among Veterans with Veterans Affairs coverage.
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The response to the COVID-19 pandemic became increasingly politicized in the U.S., and the political affiliation of state leaders may contribute to policies affecting the spread of the disease. This study examines the differences in COVID-19 infection, death, and testing by governor party affiliation across the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. ⋯ Gubernatorial party affiliation may drive policy decisions that impact COVID-19 infections and deaths across the U.S. Future policy decisions should be guided by public health considerations rather than by political ideology.