A survey of state and local practices encouraging pediatric COVID-19 vaccination of children ages 6 months through 11 years

Alaya Koneru; Katelyn Wells; Catherine Amanda Carnes; Kathryn Drumhiller; Kevin Chatham-Stephens; Mackenzie Melton; Hilary Oliphant; Stacy Hall; Cori Dennison; Michelle Fiscus; Tara Vogt

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.064

A survey of state and local practices encouraging pediatric COVID-19 vaccination of children ages 6 months through 11 years

Vaccine. 2024 Apr 8:S0264-410X(24)00369-4. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.064. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States. Electronic address: xjq8@cdc.gov.
² Association of Immunization Managers, 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 225, Rockville, MD 20850, United States.
³ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States.
⁴ Contractor for Association of Immunization Managers, 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 225, Rockville, MD 20850, United States.

PMID: 38594121
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.064

Abstract

Objective: This report highlights state and local practices for optimizing the pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program for children ages 6 months through 11 years.

Methods: State and local practices designed to optimize pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake were identified from a range of sources, including immunization program, CDC, and partner staff; and media stories or program descriptions identified via online searches.

Results: A range of practices were identified across different categories: provider-focused practices, school-based practices, jurisdiction or health department-based activities, community-focused practices involving partners, use of vaccination incentives, and Medicaid-related practices.

Conclusions: Immunization programs and stakeholders implemented a variety of practices to meet the challenge of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program. The key findings may serve to inform not only the current pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program, but also future outbreak response work and routine immunization activities.

Keywords: Immunization; Immunization program; Pediatric COVID-19; Vaccination.