Vaccination Coverage among Prisoners: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Prison inmates are highly susceptible for several infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases. We conducted a systematic international literature review on vaccination coverage against hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), combined HAV/HBV, tetanus-diphtheria, influenza, pneumococcal, and combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) in prison inmates, according to the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases were used Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cinhal. No language or time limit were applied to the search. We defined vaccination coverage as the proportion of vaccinated prisoners. There were no limitations in the search strategy regarding time period or language. Of 1079 identified studies, 28 studies were included in the review. In total, 21 reported on HBV vaccine coverage (range between 16–82%); three on HAV (range between 91–96%); two studies on combined HAV/HBV (77% in the second dose and 58% in the third); three studies on influenza vaccine (range between 36–46%), one of pneumococcal vaccine coverage (12%), and one on MMR coverage (74%). We found that data on vaccination coverage in prison inmates are scarce, heterogeneous, and do not include all relevant vaccines for this group. Current published literature indicate that prison inmates are under-immunized, particularly against HBV, influenza, MMR, and pneumococci. Strengthen immunization programs specifically for this population at risk and improvement of data record systems may contribute to better health care in prisoners.

Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccination Among Incarcerated or Detained Persons in Correctional and Detention Facilities — Four States, September–December 2020

“…Recognizing this, some jurisdictions have prioritized incarcerated or detained persons for COVID-19 vaccination. * Data pertaining to willingness of residents to be vaccinated while incarcerated or detained are scarce, and routine vaccination coverage is low in these settings ( 4 ).…”

Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of incarcerated people regarding COVID-19 and related vaccination: a survey in Italy

“…It is also of note that, as recently reported by a comprehensive systematic review, data on coverage for all vaccinations in people in prison are scarce and heterogeneous, and do not include all relevant vaccines for this group; moreover, published literature indicate that incarcerated people are under-immunized, particularly against HBV, influenza, MMR, and pneumococci 30 . Reported reasons include specific characteristics of the people in prison and their fast turnover, and poor attention to prevention interventions in this disadvantaged group 30 . This is concerning, since COVID-19 has had a tremendous toll on both incarcerated people and personnel working in prisons, calling for actions aimed at urgent prioritization of COVID-19 vaccination in these settings.…”

Barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among people incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons: A qualitative study

“…In December 2020, the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization prioritized “resident and staff of congregate settings”, such as correctional facilities, for early COVID-19 vaccination [13] . Despite the availability and promotion of routine vaccination in many correctional settings since the 1990s, vaccine uptake rates have remained historically low [14] . For example, influenza vaccination rates of people incarcerated in federal prisons on any given day between January and March 2021 ranged from 35 to 40% [15] , with similarly low vaccine rates (36–46%) observed in the United States and the Australian criminal justice systems in previous years [3] , [14] .…”

“…Despite the availability and promotion of routine vaccination in many correctional settings since the 1990s, vaccine uptake rates have remained historically low [14] . For example, influenza vaccination rates of people incarcerated in federal prisons on any given day between January and March 2021 ranged from 35 to 40% [15] , with similarly low vaccine rates (36–46%) observed in the United States and the Australian criminal justice systems in previous years [3] , [14] . COVID-19 vaccine uptake in correctional institutions needs to reach much higher levels in order to mitigate the potential morbidity and mortality that COVID-19 outbreaks can cause [16] .…”