Professor Identifies Hidden Inequities in Vaccinations Among New York Adults

The findings show that universal vaccination campaigns alone may not close persistent gaps. While inequities were driven primarily by the additive main effects of social position, meaningful intersectional interactions also emerged.

Adjunct Assistant Professor Thinh Toan Vu of the Department of Health and Human Performance has published a study in the American Journal of Public Health examining inequities in influenza vaccination among New York State adults.

Dr. Vu analyzed 36,236 adults, revealing substantial heterogeneity in vaccination uptake across overlapping social identities, including age, race/ethnicity, sex, and sexual identity. Predicted vaccination rates ranged from approximately 22% among younger Hispanic heterosexual males to 77 percent among older non-Hispanic White lesbian females.

The findings show that universal vaccination campaigns alone may not close persistent gaps. While inequities were driven primarily by the additive main effects of social position, meaningful intersectional interactions also emerged. The study supports a proportionate universalism approach, with culturally informed vaccination strategies tailored to communities according to their level of need.

“These findings help pinpoint exactly which communities are being left behind, so resources can reach them,” says Dr. Vu.