Publications by authors named "Gisela Medina-Martinez"

Article Synopsis
  • The CDC funded a wide network of 1,161 partners (110 primary and 1,051 subrecipients) across the U.S. to enhance COVID-19 vaccination efforts between March 2021 and December 2022, focusing on marginalized communities and various high-risk groups.
  • These partners used evidence-based strategies and created innovative partnerships (like with libraries and museums) to boost vaccine access and confidence through community outreach in diverse settings.
  • Over 295,000 trusted messengers were trained, over 2.1 million vaccinations were given, and significant improvements were made in healthcare systems to better incorporate COVID-19 vaccine protocols.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Vaccination disparities are part of a larger system of health inequities among racial and ethnic groups in the United States. To increase vaccine equity of racial and ethnic populations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed the Partnering for Vaccine Equity program in January 2021, which funded and supported national, state, local, and community organizations in 50 states-which include Indian Health Service Tribal Areas; Washington, DC; and Puerto Rico-to implement culturally tailored activities to improve access to, availability of, and confidence in COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. To increase vaccine uptake at the local level, CDC partnered with national organizations such as the National Urban League and Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum to engage community-based organizations to take action.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the presence and abundance of mosquito species in containers found in different types of cemeteries in Puerto Rico to assess their importance and make control recommendations.

Methods: We conducted surveys of containers with water in 16 cemeteries in southeastern Puerto Rico to detect the presence of larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti and other mosquitoes; to identify the most common and productive containers and to study their variation in relation to the type of cemetery.

Results: The most common containers with water were flowerpots, followed in abundance by a variety of discarded containers and open tombs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the United States, outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), were initially reported in densely populated urban areas (1); however, outbreaks have since been reported in rural communities (2,3). Rural residents might be at higher risk for severe COVID-19-associated illness because, on average, they are older, have higher prevalences of underlying medical conditions, and have more limited access to health care services.* In May, after a cluster of seven COVID-19 cases was identified in a rural Ohio Amish community, access to testing was increased.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF