Vaccination Uptake in Affordable Housing Following a Telehealth Program.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed whether participation in a housing-based telehealth program was associated with increased vaccination uptake. METHODS: We compared vaccination rates between participants and non-participants of the Telehealth Intervention Programs for Seniors (TIPS) in two affordable housing complexes in Newark, NJ, and Detroit, MI. TIPS offered weekly telehealth sessions with health monitoring and social services delivered by trained staff and Resident Service Coordinators. Vaccination rates were compared between TIPS participants and non-participants using administrative data. RESULTS: Telehealth Intervention Programs for Seniors participants had significantly higher vaccination rates than non-participants across clinics and sites. In Newark, participant rates were 35%, 19%, and 20% across three periods, versus 9%, 8%, and 3% for non-participants (OR=5.4, 2.7, 8.5 respectively; all p <. 001). In Detroit, 86% of participants received vaccines versus 14% of non-participants (OR=34.5, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Housing-based telehealth programs are associated with increased preventive health behaviors among underserved populations.