A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigma

Abstract Background Mpox was identified in many previously non-endemic countries, including Canada, as of May 2022. In response to the increase in cases in Canada, and more specifically the province of Ontario, the vaccine Imvamune was rolled out. Eligibility was governed by provincial health author...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kody Muncaster, Chelsea Masterman, Tamara Barnett, Robert A. Kozak, Erin Mandel, Karen Campbell, Mia J. Biondi MJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20948-1
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846112020701642752
author Kody Muncaster
Chelsea Masterman
Tamara Barnett
Robert A. Kozak
Erin Mandel
Karen Campbell
Mia J. Biondi MJ
author_facet Kody Muncaster
Chelsea Masterman
Tamara Barnett
Robert A. Kozak
Erin Mandel
Karen Campbell
Mia J. Biondi MJ
author_sort Kody Muncaster
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Mpox was identified in many previously non-endemic countries, including Canada, as of May 2022. In response to the increase in cases in Canada, and more specifically the province of Ontario, the vaccine Imvamune was rolled out. Eligibility was governed by provincial health authorities, and the response varied by region. In addition, because eligibility language was describing certain types of sexual activity, there was potential for harm. The aim of this study was to further explore the experiences of vaccine recipients as it pertained to obtaining the vaccine, access to information and vaccination, self-assessment of risk, perspectives on vaccine rollout, stigma, and community support. Methods As a part of care, a clinic in downtown Toronto, Ontario, began hosting mpox immunizations clinics between July of 2022 and March of 2023 with a standard set of clinical intake questions. Following this period, we conducted a retrospective chart review of 113 Imvamune vaccine recipients. Both descriptive quantitative data and thematic qualitative analysis was completed. Results One hundred thirteen patients received one or two doses of Imvamune between July 2022 and March 2023. The average age was 49 (range 17–78). Patients were not asked sex or gender; however, 111 patients had a male sex listed on their health card and three female sex, one of whom self-identified as a transwoman, with the remainder not having had their sex inputted into their medical records. Through descriptive thematic analysis, this study found the following recurrent themes mentioned by patients in the data set: 1) eligibility, 2) rollout and access, 3) mis/information in the media, 4) stigma. Conclusions There is little Canadian data on mpox vaccine rollout beyond epidemiologic and cohort information. Understanding the difficulties and stigma that were faced by vaccine recipients is crucial to ensure that when a public health initiative is initiated, that past traumas are not replicated. This study provides valuable patient perspectives in how to improve ongoing rollout, as well as how a campaign that includes a sexual health component may be more sensitively considered in the future.
format Article
id doaj-art-04a6f982f27c4353a37b50fd3cbe24e1
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2458
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj-art-04a6f982f27c4353a37b50fd3cbe24e12024-12-22T12:53:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-12-012411810.1186/s12889-024-20948-1A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigmaKody Muncaster0Chelsea Masterman1Tamara Barnett2Robert A. Kozak3Erin Mandel4Karen Campbell5Mia J. Biondi MJ6School of Nursing, Health, York UniversitySchool of Nursing, Health, York UniversitySchool of Nursing, Health, York UniversitySunnybrook Health Sciences CentreSchool of Nursing, Health, York UniversitySchool of Nursing, Health, York UniversitySchool of Nursing, Health, York UniversityAbstract Background Mpox was identified in many previously non-endemic countries, including Canada, as of May 2022. In response to the increase in cases in Canada, and more specifically the province of Ontario, the vaccine Imvamune was rolled out. Eligibility was governed by provincial health authorities, and the response varied by region. In addition, because eligibility language was describing certain types of sexual activity, there was potential for harm. The aim of this study was to further explore the experiences of vaccine recipients as it pertained to obtaining the vaccine, access to information and vaccination, self-assessment of risk, perspectives on vaccine rollout, stigma, and community support. Methods As a part of care, a clinic in downtown Toronto, Ontario, began hosting mpox immunizations clinics between July of 2022 and March of 2023 with a standard set of clinical intake questions. Following this period, we conducted a retrospective chart review of 113 Imvamune vaccine recipients. Both descriptive quantitative data and thematic qualitative analysis was completed. Results One hundred thirteen patients received one or two doses of Imvamune between July 2022 and March 2023. The average age was 49 (range 17–78). Patients were not asked sex or gender; however, 111 patients had a male sex listed on their health card and three female sex, one of whom self-identified as a transwoman, with the remainder not having had their sex inputted into their medical records. Through descriptive thematic analysis, this study found the following recurrent themes mentioned by patients in the data set: 1) eligibility, 2) rollout and access, 3) mis/information in the media, 4) stigma. Conclusions There is little Canadian data on mpox vaccine rollout beyond epidemiologic and cohort information. Understanding the difficulties and stigma that were faced by vaccine recipients is crucial to ensure that when a public health initiative is initiated, that past traumas are not replicated. This study provides valuable patient perspectives in how to improve ongoing rollout, as well as how a campaign that includes a sexual health component may be more sensitively considered in the future.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20948-1MpoxVaccinationPreventionRisksEquityStigma
spellingShingle Kody Muncaster
Chelsea Masterman
Tamara Barnett
Robert A. Kozak
Erin Mandel
Karen Campbell
Mia J. Biondi MJ
A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigma
BMC Public Health
Mpox
Vaccination
Prevention
Risks
Equity
Stigma
title A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigma
title_full A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigma
title_fullStr A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigma
title_full_unstemmed A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigma
title_short A retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022–2023: evaluation of access, motivations, and stigma
title_sort retrospective chart review and thematic analysis of patients seeking mpox vaccination during the initial outbreak in 2022 2023 evaluation of access motivations and stigma
topic Mpox
Vaccination
Prevention
Risks
Equity
Stigma
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20948-1
work_keys_str_mv AT kodymuncaster aretrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT chelseamasterman aretrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT tamarabarnett aretrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT robertakozak aretrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT erinmandel aretrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT karencampbell aretrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT miajbiondimj aretrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT kodymuncaster retrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT chelseamasterman retrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT tamarabarnett retrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT robertakozak retrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT erinmandel retrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT karencampbell retrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma
AT miajbiondimj retrospectivechartreviewandthematicanalysisofpatientsseekingmpoxvaccinationduringtheinitialoutbreakin20222023evaluationofaccessmotivationsandstigma