COVID-19 Calls for Clinical Providers
These meetings for clinical providers are organized by the Boston Public Health Commission and provide information about emerging issues related to COVID-19 treatment.
Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines: BPHC Provider Meeting
April 6, 2022, 6:00-7:30PM
Increasing COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Boston children and youth—by increasing access to vaccines, appropriately counseling families and youth on COVID-19 vaccines and side effects and building trust--- is a public health priority. Pediatric and youth COVID-19 vaccination rates across the City of Boston remain low and have stagnated over the past months, with only 39.9% of Boston children ages 5-11 and <70% of youth ages 15-24 reported as fully vaccinated as of March 9, 2022. Racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric COVID-19 vaccination status remain evident in Boston’s communities of color, with only 21.4% and 27.2% of Black and Latinx children (5-11 yrs) reported as fully vaccinated, compared to 66.4% of White children.
During this meeting, experts will review the latest clinical and public health data on COVID-19 vaccines, including risk of myocarditis among youth and adolescents, COVID-19 messaging and engagement strategies, and best practices to strengthen vaccine confidence among vulnerable parents and families.
Access to COVID-19 Oral Treatments Meeting
February 16, 2022, 6:00-7:30PM
Though new oral antiviral medications for COVID-19 have become available, access throughout Boston is currently limited. There is significant concern that scarce supply and barriers to uptake of oral antivirals will exacerbate racial and ethnic health disparities that have been noted throughout the pandemic. During this meeting, experts will review best practices for safe, equitable prescribing to treat individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Speakers from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will discuss access and availability of antivirals. Community Health Center leadership will describe models that they are currently utilizing to increase prescription and uptake among Boston’s most vulnerable populations.