A study by Rutgers School of Public Health reveals disparities in hepatitis A vaccination among men who have sex with men, focusing on racial and ethnic minority groups. Published in the International Journal of STD & AIDS, it examines vaccine uptake and medical mistrust regarding hepatitis A vaccination.
Hepatitis A, a vaccine-preventable, contagious disease, has seen increased outbreaks in communities of men who have sex with men. It affects liver cells, causing inflammation that can impair liver function. Despite public health guidelines, a gap persists in hepatitis A vaccination among these men, especially those who are Black and multiracial.
Tiffany Guo, lead study author, states, “Despite public health recommendations, we see a significant gap in hepatitis A vaccination among men who have sex with men, particularly among those who are Black and multiracial.”
The CDC advocates routine hepatitis A vaccination for high-risk groups, including men who have sex with men. Rutgers’ study, however, reports that only 60% of a sample of 222 gay, bisexual, and other identifying men who have sex with men were fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates varied with factors such as age, race/ethnicity, and employment status. The study also observed heightened medical mistrust among the unvaccinated, particularly Black, Hispanic, and Latine individuals.
Kristen Krause, assistant professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and deputy director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, comments on the findings: “Our findings highlight the need for targeted intervention strategies that address both vaccine accessibility and medical mistrust.”
This work is part of the QVax study, exploring vaccine uptake for various diseases among LGBTQ+ adults in New Jersey and New York, including COVID-19, human papillomavirus, hepatitis A and B, RSV, meningitis B, and seasonal influenza.
The disparities noted in the study suggest broader systemic healthcare issues concerning access and trust, according to the researchers.
