Institute for Community Research
VIP: Vaccinate for Influenza Prevention

VIP: Vaccinate for Influenza Prevention

Vaccination for flu

VIP: Vaccinate for Influenza Prevention

Influenza disproportionately affects African-American, Latino and other minority and low-income older adults. Complications related to influenza may result in hospitalization and subsequent declines in wellbeing among older adults, especially those with chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma. Although more Americans are getting vaccinated each year, significant disparities between minority and white adults persist and disparities increase as income and health care access decrease. In densely populated residential communities, an increase in vaccination rates can greatly improve both individual and community health. V.I.P.: Vaccinate for Influenza Prevention is designed to increase knowledge, promote positive attitudes toward and increase influenza vaccination rates and at the same time to encourage a proactive and sustainable approach to health maintenance among low-income, primarily minority older adults living independently in senior housing buildings in Hartford, CT.

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Project Staff

ICR
Jean J. Schensul, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Kim Radda, RN, MA.
Project Director
William Disch, Ph.D.
Senior Data Analyst
Elsie Vazquez, BA.
Intervention Facilitator
Ken Williamson, Ph.D.
Intervention Scientist
Michelle Garner, BA
Data Manager

University of Connecticut Health Center, Center on Aging
George Kuchel, M.D., FRCP
UCHC Principal Investigator
Rita Jepson, M.D.
Co-Investigator
Assistant Professor, UCHC

Allison Kleppinger, MS
Research Assistant
Jan McElhaney, M.D.
Consultant

Hartford Housing Authority
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Wanda Moore

VNA Health Care Inc. of Greater Hartford
Laurie St. John, R.N., M.S.N.

North Central Area Agency on Aging (NCAAA)
Carmen Y. Reyes, M.S.M.
Laurie Brooks

Project Abstract

Please read the project abstract here.

Project Outcomes

Please read about the project findings here.

Please see the poster presentation for this project here.

Please read the paper written about this project here.