Use of Ryan White Services Increases Initiation of COVID-19 Vaccine

Engagement with Ryan White services increased initiation of the COVID-19 vaccine series regardless of community-level vulnerability, according to findings published in JAIDS. Sarah Karram, MPH, and colleagues examined how engagement in HIV care impacted uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among a large group of people with HIV in Michigan (N=15,537). By December 31, 2021, 67% of people with HIV in Michigan had started the COVID-19 vaccine series. Of these patients, 47% lived in an area deemed most vulnerable and 54% engaged with Ryan White services. Compared with people with HIV in the most vulnerable quartile, those residing in the least vulnerable quartiles had a higher prevalence of vaccine initiation (prevalence ratio, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.50-1.86). Participants using Ryan White services had higher initiation of the vaccine series (prevalence ratio, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.42-1.62) compared with those who did not. Starting the vaccine series remained higher when adjusted for covariates, including social vulnerability quartile. “Wraparound services may be key in vaccine promotion interventions in this vulnerable population,” Dr. Karram and colleagues wrote.