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Background: Vaccines are effective in preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccine hesitancy defined as delay of acceptance or refusal of the vaccine is a major barrier to effective implementation. Methods: Participants were recruited statewide through an English and Spanish social media marketing campaign conducted by a local news station during a one-month period as vaccines were becoming available in Rhode Island (from December 21, 2020 to January 22, 2021). Participants completed an online survey about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine hesitancy with constructs and items adopted from the Health Belief Model. Results: A total of 2,007 individuals completed the survey. Eight percent (n = 161) reported vaccine hesitancy. The sample had a median age of 58 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 45, 67), were majority female (78%), White (96%), Non-Hispanic (94%), employed (58%), and reported an annual individual income of $50,000 (59%). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was associated with attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19. A one unit increase in concern about COVID-19 was associated with a 69% (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.26–0.37) decrease in vaccine hesitancy. A one-level increase in the likelihood of getting influenza vaccine was associated with a 55% (AOR: 0.45 95% CI: 0.41–0.50) decrease in vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was relatively low in a state-wide survey in Rhode Island. Future research is needed to better understand and tailor messaging related to vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retention in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care is critical for effective PrEP implementation. Few studies have reported long-term lost to follow-up (LTFU) and re-engagement in PrEP care in the United States. Medical record data for all cisgender patients presenting to the major Rhode Island PrEP clinic from 2013 to 2019 were included. LTFU was defined as no PrEP follow-up appointment within 98 days. Re-engagement in care was defined as individuals who were ever LTFU and later attended a follow-up appointment. Recurrent event survival analysis was performed to explore factors associated with PrEP retention over time. Of 654 PrEP patients, the median age was 31 years old [interquartile range (IQR): 25, 43]. The majority were male (96%), White (64%), non-Hispanic (82%), and insured (97%). Overall, 72% patients were ever LTFU and 27% of those ever LTFU re-engaged in care. Female patients were 1.37 times [crude hazard ratio (cHR): 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86–2.18] more likely to be LTFU than male patients, and a 1-year increase in age was associated with a 1% lower hazard of being LTFU (cHR: 0.99; CI: 0.98–0.99). Being either heterosexual (aHR: 2.25, 95% (CI): 1.70–2.99] or bisexual (aHR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.15–4.82) was associated with a higher hazard of loss to follow-up compared with having same-sex partners only. The majority of PrEP users were LTFU, especially at the first 6 months of PrEP initiation. Although a significant number were re-engaged in care, targeted interventions are needed to improve retention in PrEP care. This study characterized the natural projection of loss to follow-up and re-engagement in HIV PrEP care using a longitudinal clinic cohort data and explored associated factors for guiding future interventions to improve retention in PrEP care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Men who have sex with men are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States and may benefit most from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However, differences may exist between men who only have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW). MSMW may experience more barriers to accessing PrEP and may act as a potential bridge population for transmitting HIV to female sex partners. Differences in PrEP awareness and use between MSM and MSMW are unknown. Methods We evaluated all MSM and MSMW presenting to the Rhode Island Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinic and PrEP clinic from 2013–2017. Demographics and behavioral information were reviewed. Bivariate analyses were performed to present distributions of demographic and behavioral characteristics by sexual behavior. Logistic regression was conducted to explore associations between PrEP awareness/use and sexual behavior. Confounding variables were identified using the directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) and a priori. Results Of 1,795 male individuals, 84% (1,504) were MSM, and 16% (291) were MSMW. The median age of our study population was 29 (interquartile range [IQR]: 23–42). When compared with MSM, MSMW were more likely to be non-White (33% vs. 28%), uninsured (54% vs.46%), self-report more sexual partners in the past 12 months (median 6 [IQR: 3–9]: vs. 4 [IQR:2–10]), use intranasal cocaine (21% vs. 12%), and engage in selling (6% vs. 2%) or buying sex (12% vs. 4%, all P < 0.05). MSMW were also less likely to have a previous HIV test (77% vs. 89%) compared with MSM. MSMW were 59% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 041, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31–0.55) less likely to be aware of PrEP and 17% (aOR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.41–1.66) less likely to report ever using PrEP after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and self-reported HIV risk. Conclusion Despite engaging in higher risk behaviors, MSMW were significantly less likely to be aware of or use PrEP compared with MSM. Future PrEP interventions are needed to target this potentially high-risk bridge population. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates continue to rise in the United States (US). Over half of all new STDs occur in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Few studies have evaluated how sexual behaviors such as number of partners or condom use may contribute to this increase. We aimed to determine the association of sexual behaviors and condom use with STD incidence over time among AYA. Methods We reviewed all AYA ages 13–26 years attending a public STD clinic in Rhode Island from 2013–2017. We reviewed demographic and behavioral data including age, gender identity, risk group, race, ethnicity, insurance status, sexual behaviors, substance use, self-reported STD/HIV diagnosis (lifetime, past year), condom use, and HIV/STD testing results. We report proportions in 2013 and 2017, and performed trend analyses (Cocharn-Armitage test for categorical variables and Kruskal–Wallis trend test for continuous variables) to determine trends over time. Results A total of 3,822 AYA visited the clinic during the study time period. An increasing trend was observed for: multiple (≥5) partners (29% of AYA in 2013 vs. 38% in 2017, P < 0.001), self-reported past year and lifetime STD diagnosis (12 vs. 21%, P < 0.001 and 19 vs. 33%, P < 0.001, respectively), and lab-documented diagnosis of any STD (15 vs. 25%, P < 0.001), syphilis (2 vs. 5%, P = 0.006), any chlamydia (11 vs. 20%, P = 0.001), and any gonorrhea (3 vs. 8%, P = 0.008). A decreasing trend was observed for: white race (66% in 2013 vs. 43% in 2017, P < 0.001), uninsured (73 vs. 53%, P < 0.001), condomless sex during oral as well as vaginal/anal sex (22 vs. 10%, P = 0.001 and 16 vs. 8%, P = 0.001, respectively), and self-reported HIV diagnosis (2.5% to 0.9%, P = 0.016). Conclusion Among AYA, risk behaviors such as condomless sex and multiple partners increased significantly from 2013–2017, which may be contributing to an increase in STDs. Increased public health efforts are needed to promote education and other interventions to address behaviors associated with STD transmission. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the form of daily tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF/FTC) is a potentially transformative tool to prevent HIV infection. However, PrEP scale-up in the United States has been slow and difficult to evaluate comprehensively. All payer claims databases (APCDs) are large datasets that contain information on medical and pharmaceutical claims from most public and private payers in each state, and provide an unusual opportunity to evaluate statewide PrEP implementation efforts. Methods We used 2012–2017 data from Rhode Island's APCD and developed an algorithm to identify individuals prescribed TDF/FTC for PrEP. We compared APCD PrEP data to electronic medical record (EMR) data at the largest dedicated PrEP program in the state, and to other comprehensive pharmaceutical claims data (AIDSVu.org). We calculated the PrEP-to-Need ratio (PnR) based on annual HIV incidence, and used multivariable logistic regression to predict ZIP code-level PrEP use, and specialty of prescribing provider (primary care vs. infectious disease). Results The Rhode Island APCD included insurance claims for 917,633 individuals (87% of the Rhode Island population). PrEP use increased substantially in Rhode Island over the 5-year period, from 13 to 331 prescriptions between 2012 and 2017, with 546 total users during this time period. Users were predominantly male (89%) and privately insured (69.1%), and concentrated in Providence County (71.5%). The PnR ratio increased from 0.2 to 4.0 from 2012–2017. Compared with AIDSVu and EMR Data, the APCD underestimated the number of PrEP users in Rhode Island, but improved over time in documenting users. Infectious diseases specialists had 8.4 times the odds (95% CI: 5.4 to 12.9) of being a PrEP prescriber compared with primary care providers. A total of 2.6% of infectious disease specialists were PrEP prescribers compared with 0.33% of PCPs. The proportion of Black or Hispanic individuals in a ZIP-code was not a significant predictor of PrEP use. Conclusion APCDs offer an innovative approach to evaluate statewide PrEP implementation comprehensively. Engaging PCPs in PrEP implementation is critical to improve overall uptake among populations most at-risk. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]