Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 4, August 2015
http://link.springer.com/journal/10903/17/4/page/1

.
HPV Awareness and Vaccine Willingness Among Dominican Immigrant Parents Attending a Federal Qualified Health Clinic in Puerto Rico
Vivian Colón-López, Valerie Quiñones, Lizbeth M. Del Toro-Mejías, Alexandra Conde-Toro, Michelle J. Serra-Rivera, Tania M. Martínez, Verónica Rodríguez, Luis Berdiel,
Héctor Villanueva
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV), and willingness to vaccinate among a convenience sample of 60 immigrant Dominican parents of adolescent sons in a Federal Qualified Health Clinic in Puerto Rico. Participation involved completing a self-administered survey. Even though more than half of the parents had not received proper HPV vaccine orientation from healthcare provider (58.3 %) nor asked provider for vaccination recommendation for their adolescent sons (56.7 %), most parents were aware of HPV (91.7 %) and HPV vaccination among males (55.0 %). Among those with unvaccinated sons, willingness to vaccinate the son within the next year was high (83.8 %). The low vaccination percentage (31.7 %) and information exchange between the parents and the son’s healthcare provider indicates an opportunity for future culturally tailored interventions to target HPV vaccination among healthcare providers and parents of foreign descent in order to increase HPV vaccine uptake among males.

Effect of Influenza Vaccination on Acute Respiratory Symptoms in Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims
Habsah Hasan, Zakuan Zainy Deris, Siti Amrah Sulaiman, Mohd Suhaimi Abdul Wahab, Nyi Nyi Naing, Zulkefle Ab Rahman, Nor Hayati Othman
Abstract
Respiratory illness were a major problem and caused high hospital admission during hajj seasons. One of the contributing cause to this illness is infection. Various measures had been implemented to reduce respiratory infections. The aim on the study is to determine the effect of influenza vaccination against acute respiratory illness among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims. This is an observational cohort study. Influenza vaccination was given to pilgrims at least 2 weeks prior to departure. The occurrence of symptoms for respiratory illness such as cough, fever, sore throat and runny nose was monitored daily for 6 weeks during pilgrimage using a health diary. A total of 65 vaccinated hajj pilgrims and 41 controls were analyzed. There was no significant difference in pattern of occurrence of symptoms of respiratory illness by duration of pilgrimage as well as the number of symptoms between both groups. Hajj pilgrims have frequent respiratory symptoms. We were unable to document benefit from influenza vaccination, but our study was limited by a small sample size and lack of laboratory testing for influenza.