Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overview

ContextAmerican Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) are historically disadvantaged, losing 20 million (95%) of their population largely through epidemics since 1,520 and continuing lower overall vaccination coverage than other races. Determinants of this lower coverage are underexamined.MethodsAmong...

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Main Authors: Junying Zhao, Rashmi Jaggad, Ying Zhang, Janis E. Campbell, Pallab K. Ghosh, James R. Kennedye, Tauqeer Ali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1490286/full
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author Junying Zhao
Rashmi Jaggad
Ying Zhang
Janis E. Campbell
Pallab K. Ghosh
James R. Kennedye
Tauqeer Ali
author_facet Junying Zhao
Rashmi Jaggad
Ying Zhang
Janis E. Campbell
Pallab K. Ghosh
James R. Kennedye
Tauqeer Ali
author_sort Junying Zhao
collection DOAJ
description ContextAmerican Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) are historically disadvantaged, losing 20 million (95%) of their population largely through epidemics since 1,520 and continuing lower overall vaccination coverage than other races. Determinants of this lower coverage are underexamined.MethodsAmong peer-reviewed relevant articles since 1968, 39 studied AIANs solely; 47 drew general population samples, including AIANs. We employed rigorous economic definitions and framework of Individual Decision-Making Under Uncertainty. The Social-Ecological model identified determinants and mechanisms at five levels.FindingsIndividual-level determinants include: (1) vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) and vaccine knowledge; (2) vaccine safety, efficacy, moral hazard beliefs; (3) preferences; (4) income and post-subsidy costs. Interpersonal-level determinants include others’ knowledge and preferences. Organizational-level characteristics of Indian Health Service, Tribal, Urban Indian (IHS/T/U) facilities include: (1) supply of vaccine products, providers, services; (2) provider cultural competency, vaccine recommendations, standing orders; (3) patient reminder/recall. Community-level characteristics include: (1) socioeconomics and geographics; (2) information infrastructure; (3) cultural values, practices, languages; (4) historical epidemic knowledge; (5) historical harms thus distrust in government, health system, science. Societal-level determinants include: (1) federal recognition and entitlements; (2) tribal self-determination; (3) state Medicaid enrollment; (4) structural racism.Policy recommendationsTribal interventions may (1) increase AIANs’ knowledge about VPDs, vaccines, Medicaid enrollment; (2) design risk/cost–benefit calculations using scientific objective probabilities of vaccine safety and efficacy; (3) tailor messages to epidemic histories, narratives, values; (4) outreach by trusted messengers. I/T/U organizational interventions may reduce transportation costs while increasing provider supplies, cultural competency, and vaccine standing orders. Federal policies may increase IHS funding, tribal infrastructure, and AIAN data representativeness while eliminating structural racism and generational trauma.ConclusionThis article contributes to literature and practice. It is the first multidisciplinary, comprehensive overview of multi-level determinants and mechanisms of AIAN vaccination. Its findings highlight the gaps and limitations of laws and policies impacting AIAN vaccination. It recommends future research, culturally-appropriate interventions, and policies to close the gap to enhance AIAN vaccination and healing.
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spelling doaj-art-c59f3ee1908b48d9a23c8cdf95ef3af52025-08-20T02:48:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14902861490286Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overviewJunying Zhao0Rashmi Jaggad1Ying Zhang2Janis E. Campbell3Pallab K. Ghosh4James R. Kennedye5Tauqeer Ali6Department of Health Administration and Policy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma, OK, United StatesDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma, OK, United StatesStrong Heart Study/Center for American Indian Health, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma, OK, United StatesDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma, OK, United StatesDepartment of Economics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United StatesChickasaw Nation Medical Center, Muscogee Creek Nation Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Ada, OK, United StatesStrong Heart Study/Center for American Indian Health, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma, OK, United StatesContextAmerican Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) are historically disadvantaged, losing 20 million (95%) of their population largely through epidemics since 1,520 and continuing lower overall vaccination coverage than other races. Determinants of this lower coverage are underexamined.MethodsAmong peer-reviewed relevant articles since 1968, 39 studied AIANs solely; 47 drew general population samples, including AIANs. We employed rigorous economic definitions and framework of Individual Decision-Making Under Uncertainty. The Social-Ecological model identified determinants and mechanisms at five levels.FindingsIndividual-level determinants include: (1) vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) and vaccine knowledge; (2) vaccine safety, efficacy, moral hazard beliefs; (3) preferences; (4) income and post-subsidy costs. Interpersonal-level determinants include others’ knowledge and preferences. Organizational-level characteristics of Indian Health Service, Tribal, Urban Indian (IHS/T/U) facilities include: (1) supply of vaccine products, providers, services; (2) provider cultural competency, vaccine recommendations, standing orders; (3) patient reminder/recall. Community-level characteristics include: (1) socioeconomics and geographics; (2) information infrastructure; (3) cultural values, practices, languages; (4) historical epidemic knowledge; (5) historical harms thus distrust in government, health system, science. Societal-level determinants include: (1) federal recognition and entitlements; (2) tribal self-determination; (3) state Medicaid enrollment; (4) structural racism.Policy recommendationsTribal interventions may (1) increase AIANs’ knowledge about VPDs, vaccines, Medicaid enrollment; (2) design risk/cost–benefit calculations using scientific objective probabilities of vaccine safety and efficacy; (3) tailor messages to epidemic histories, narratives, values; (4) outreach by trusted messengers. I/T/U organizational interventions may reduce transportation costs while increasing provider supplies, cultural competency, and vaccine standing orders. Federal policies may increase IHS funding, tribal infrastructure, and AIAN data representativeness while eliminating structural racism and generational trauma.ConclusionThis article contributes to literature and practice. It is the first multidisciplinary, comprehensive overview of multi-level determinants and mechanisms of AIAN vaccination. Its findings highlight the gaps and limitations of laws and policies impacting AIAN vaccination. It recommends future research, culturally-appropriate interventions, and policies to close the gap to enhance AIAN vaccination and healing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1490286/fullAmerican Indian and Alaska nativesafetyvaccination behaviorvaccination coveragevaccination decision-making processvaccine hesitancy
spellingShingle Junying Zhao
Rashmi Jaggad
Ying Zhang
Janis E. Campbell
Pallab K. Ghosh
James R. Kennedye
Tauqeer Ali
Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overview
Frontiers in Public Health
American Indian and Alaska native
safety
vaccination behavior
vaccination coverage
vaccination decision-making process
vaccine hesitancy
title Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overview
title_full Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overview
title_fullStr Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overview
title_full_unstemmed Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overview
title_short Multi-level determinants of vaccination of the American Indian and Alaska Native population: a comprehensive overview
title_sort multi level determinants of vaccination of the american indian and alaska native population a comprehensive overview
topic American Indian and Alaska native
safety
vaccination behavior
vaccination coverage
vaccination decision-making process
vaccine hesitancy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1490286/full
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