53 - Synergizing Shots and Smiles: Delivering Influenza Vaccines via Medical Dental Integration for Children 18 months-5 years old in a Federally Qualified Health Center

Poster Number: 53
Publication Number: 53.1315

Background: Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality particularly in children under 5 years old. Because the influenza season spans September to March, pediatric patients may not present to their primary care physician during this time, thereby missing an opportunity for vaccination. However, as routine dental visits are recommended every 6 months after the first tooth eruption, children may present to the dentist during influenza season instead. Dental visits create an additional opportunity for vaccination. In this pilot, we offer same-day influenza vaccination to patients age 18 months to 5 years old to patients who present for routine dental visits via medical dental integration (MDI).

Objective: To assess the reach and effectiveness of a MDI intervention for influenza vaccines in patients ages 18 months to 5 years old.

Design/Methods: The project is being performed at one dental clinic that is co-located within a medical home in the Denver Health system which is a large urban federally qualified healthcare center. Data collection started 9/25/23 and will continue through influenza vaccine season ending 3/31/24. Our implementation measures are depicted in Figure 1. The data was analyzed using descriptive analysis performed to assess patient demographics and implementation outcomes of interest. We assessed the reach, defined as the proportion of patients 18 months to 5 years old eligible for influenza vaccine at the time of their dental visit, and effectiveness, defined as the proportion of eligible patients who were vaccinated at their visit.

Results: In the first weeks of the project spanning 9/28/23 to 10/25/23, 229 eligible patients were identified. Of these patients, 29% (N=52) of them received same day influenza vaccine. At the end of the first three weeks, the project was paused due to a shortage of influenza vaccines and resumed 10/23/23. Patient demographic data is included in Table 1. A run chart (Figure 2) displays the percentage of eligible patients who received same day influenza vaccination via MDI. Barriers are marked as red and facilitators are marked as green.

Conclusion(s): Families were receptive to discussing and receiving vaccinations during dental visits. The largest limitation early in the project was the influenza vaccine shortage, which was actually the result of higher vaccine uptake than initially anticipated. Our pilot work suggests this program is highly feasible; ongoing work must continue to evaluate its reach and effectiveness while assessing barriers and facilitators to program sustainability and maintenance.