Characterizing Social Determinants of Health in the Population Receiving Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination in a Nationwide Pharmacy Chain in the United States
Author(s)
Laura Lupton, MHA, MD, Xiaowu Sun, PhD, Shiyu Lin, MS, Sravanthi Mikkilineni, B.Tech, Leena Samuel, MS, Joaquim Fernandes, MS;
CVS Health, Woonsocket, RI, USA
CVS Health, Woonsocket, RI, USA
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe illness. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends RSV vaccination for older adults and RSV vaccinations in this population are primarily given in retail pharmacies. Socially vulnerable populations may experience barriers which limit their access to healthcare. This study describes social vulnerability characteristics of patients receiving RSV vaccination at a national pharmacy chain.
METHODS: RSV vaccination records were identified from the CVS immunization research database. There are about 9,000+ CVS Pharmacy locations in local neighborhoods across the United States. CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was linked to the CVS immunization database by zip code of patient’s residence. Records were summarized by quintiles of overall SVI and its 4 constituent themes and 16 factors. The first and fifth quintiles represent least and most vulnerable communities, respectively.
RESULTS: A total of 3,370,867 RSV vaccinations were given in 3,347,578 patients aged 60 years or older from August 2023 through December 22, 2024. Patients were 56.7% 60-74 years and 43.3% 75 years or older, and 55.9% female. By US region, there were Northeast 27%, South 35%, Midwest 17%, and West 21%. Within the RSV vaccinated population, the 4th and 5th quintiles together accounted for 54.9 % demonstrating greater social vulnerability than would be expected in the general population, with only a combined 19.8% falling into the 1st and 2nd quintiles. The strongest drivers of social vulnerability within the combined 4th and 5th quintiles were: 56.3% with vulnerability Housing Cost Burden; 66.7% with vulnerability Racial & Ethnic Minority Status; 69.2% with vulnerability Housing Type/Transportation; and 77.8% with vulnerability English Language Proficiency.
CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of the population receiving RSV vaccination at a national pharmacy chain came from highly vulnerable communities. Community-based vaccination may help to address barriers to healthcare access in vulnerable communities.
METHODS: RSV vaccination records were identified from the CVS immunization research database. There are about 9,000+ CVS Pharmacy locations in local neighborhoods across the United States. CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was linked to the CVS immunization database by zip code of patient’s residence. Records were summarized by quintiles of overall SVI and its 4 constituent themes and 16 factors. The first and fifth quintiles represent least and most vulnerable communities, respectively.
RESULTS: A total of 3,370,867 RSV vaccinations were given in 3,347,578 patients aged 60 years or older from August 2023 through December 22, 2024. Patients were 56.7% 60-74 years and 43.3% 75 years or older, and 55.9% female. By US region, there were Northeast 27%, South 35%, Midwest 17%, and West 21%. Within the RSV vaccinated population, the 4th and 5th quintiles together accounted for 54.9 % demonstrating greater social vulnerability than would be expected in the general population, with only a combined 19.8% falling into the 1st and 2nd quintiles. The strongest drivers of social vulnerability within the combined 4th and 5th quintiles were: 56.3% with vulnerability Housing Cost Burden; 66.7% with vulnerability Racial & Ethnic Minority Status; 69.2% with vulnerability Housing Type/Transportation; and 77.8% with vulnerability English Language Proficiency.
CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of the population receiving RSV vaccination at a national pharmacy chain came from highly vulnerable communities. Community-based vaccination may help to address barriers to healthcare access in vulnerable communities.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HPR152
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Health Disparities & Equity
Disease
STA: Vaccines