Browsing by Author "Laroche, Robert A.S."

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    Failures in COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Data Collection Complicated Efforts to Ensure Vaccine Equity in Texas
    (2022) Laroche, Robert A.S.; Llinas, Roxanna J.; Navara, Adam M.; Tan, Melody T.; Lakshmanan, Rekha; Matthews, Kirstin R.W.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
    The equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines is a critical issue due to the stark differences in health care outcomes between individuals who have received a vaccine and those who have not.1,2 Several demographic groups have historically faced barriers to accessing health care services such as vaccinations, including the elderly, rural populations, lower income groups, and communities of color.3-6 Overcoming these disadvantages and ensuring easy and affordable access are critical components of health care. Moreover, as part of an effective government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary for members of all demographic groups to reach high rates of vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity within a region.7 In this paper, we discuss the steps taken by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TX DSHS) to ensure equitable vaccine access and to assess how shortfalls in data collection led to vaccine inequities. We recommend changes to the Texas immunization registry that will improve data collection, allow for more effective monitoring of vaccine distribution, and better prepare Texas for future public health crises.