P-1621. Effectiveness of Mobile Vaccine Clinics on COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in the United States: Real-world Outcomes Study

TL;DR

Mobile vaccine clinics in Utah increased first-dose vaccination rates in host and nearby areas, suggesting they are effective for improving vaccine coverage.

Contribution

This study provides real-world evidence of MVC effectiveness in increasing vaccination rates in the US, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Findings

MVCs reduced the odds of no vaccination in host ZIP codes by 79.6% per additional MVC day.

MVCs increased weekly vaccination rates by 1.8% in host ZIP codes and 0.3% in nearby ZIP codes.

MVCs were most frequently deployed in areas with high social vulnerability and Hispanic populations.

Abstract

Mobile vaccine clinics (MVCs) strategy has been shown to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in several countries. However, their impact on overall vaccination rates remains limited in the United States (US). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MVCs in increasing COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the state of Utah.

We collected and analyzed data on MVCs and COVID-19 vaccinations in Utah from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. The primary exposure was the weekly number of MVC days in host ZIP codes. The secondary exposure was the weekly number of MVC days in nearby ZIP codes. The outcome was the weekly first-dose COVID-19 vaccination rate (weekly number of individuals receiving first-dose vaccine/ ZIP code population). We used a mixed-effect zero-inflated beta-regression model to measure the association between a one-day MVC and this outcome. Covariates included healthcare access barriers index, resource-constrained healthcare systems index, social vulnerability index (SVI), vaccine hesitancy, and baseline vaccination rates. The unit of analysis was the ZIP code-week.

During the study period, MVCs were deployed in Utah for 2,760 MVC days, averaging 8.5 MVC days per 10,000 residents. MVCs were deployed with high density in ZIP codes with high proportions of Hispanics (11.7 days per 10,000 residents), urban ZIP codes (9.0 days per 10,0000 residents), and ZIP codes with very high and high SVI (14.9 and 6.5 days per 10,000 residents, respectively). In the zero-inflated component, each additional MVC day in a given week reduced the odds of no vaccination in that week by 79.6% in host ZIP codes (OR= 0.204, 95%CI 0.063; 0.660), and by 20.3% in nearby ZIP codes (OR= 0.797, 95%CI 0.741; 0.856). In the beta component, for ZIP codes with vaccinations, each additional MVC day in a given week increased the odds of weekly vaccination rates by 1.8% in host ZIP codes (OR= 1.018, 95%CI 1.002; 1.034) , and by 0.3% in nearby ZIP codes (OR= 1.003, 95%CI 1.000; 1.005).

MVCs increased COVID-19 vaccination uptake on both host and nearby ZIP codes in Utah. This finding supports the use of MVCs to improve vaccine coverage and inform their use for other public health programs.

Andrew T. Pavia, MD, Antimicrobial therapy inc.: Royalties|Haleon: Advisor/Consultant

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