Trends in COVID-19 vaccine administration across visit types in a safety net pediatric practice during the first year of authorization
Research shows that many parents would prefer to get their child vaccinated at their pediatrician’s office. However, little is know about how often COVID-19 vaccines are administered, and during which types of visits. Although COVID-19 vaccination prevents severe disease and hospitalization in children and adolescents, vaccination rates are too low. As COVID-19 vaccines are most likely delivered in pediatric practices, the study explored COVID-19 vaccine delivery in pediatric practices to guide future vaccine promotion efforts.

Empowering Youth Vaccine Ambassadors to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination in Local Communities: A 7-Step Approach
Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for youth since 2021, uptake remains low, particularly among Latinx and African American youth. Addressing vaccine hesitancy remains critical to prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infection.

The Healthy Kids & Families Study: Outcomes of a 24-Month Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention
Almost 1 out of every 5 children between 6-11 years old living in the United States have obesity. Rates of obesity are higher among children whose parents have lower income or fewer years of education. Obesity can lead to poor physical and mental health. There is little information about what approaches can prevent childhood obesity.

CONFIDENCE: Clinicians for Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations for Youth and Adolescents
Despite COVID-19 vaccines being available to 12-17 year olds since May, 2021 and to 5-11 year olds since November, 2021, vaccine uptake remains suboptimal. Innovative strategies are needed to improve pediatric COVID-19 vaccination rates. CONFIDENCE: Clinicians for Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations for Youth and Adolescents was developed to support clinicians in conversations with vaccine hesitant and resistant. 

Clinician perspectives on COVID-19 vaccination for youth and families in central and western Massachusetts
As parents view their child’s clinician as a trusted partner in caring for their children, a key to increasing rates could be involvement of the clinicians. Clinicians are on the front lines of efforts to improve vaccination rates through parental education, vaccine delivery or referral to community vaccine sites. Training on giving strong, presumptive recommendations, directly addressing misinformation, developing effecting messages, and integrating vaccine delivery best practices into routine practice are needed.

Parental attitudes, concerns, and thoughts about the COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-old children: Focus group findings from Worcester, MA
Vaccine hesitancy is a long-standing public health issue that can result in low vaccination rates. This pattern is seen in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine among children, as the vaccination rates are low. Through focus groups, parents report that clear communication is needed to combat vaccine hesitancy. Parents want to hear vaccine decisions form healthcare providers and friends.

Differences in Blood Pressure Levels among Children by Socioeconomic Status
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for elevated blood pressure. More children in certain sociodemographic subgroups of people experience elevated blood pressure. After adjustment for body weight, observed disparities in prevalence of elevated blood pressure in older, male, and non-Latino Black children remained. This indicates that factors beyond differences in body weight may contribute to disparities in blood pressure.

Association Between Obstetric Provider's Advice and the Amount of Weight Women Gained During Pregnancy 
Health care provider advice about weight gain during pregnancy matters. Too much weight gain during pregnancy may increase the risk of complications for the mother and the infant. Unfortunately, about half of all pregnant women gain more weight than recommended. This is particularly true for poor women and women from racial/ethnic minority groups. Research has found that health care provider advice plays an important role in patients deciding to change their behaviors. This study found that when health care providers give advice about pregnancy weight gain and this advice is followed, women are more likely to gain a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.

Home matters: adolescents drink more sugar sweetened beverages when they are available at home  
Sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas, fruit drinks, and sports drinks contain added calories with little to no nutritional value. As both the consumption of these beverages has increased more than 300% in the past 3 decades, and the percentage of adolescents who are overweight or obese has also increased, research points to these beverages as being a major contributor to weight gain. As adolescents are the highest consumers of sodas, fruit drinks, and other sugar-sweetened beverages, this study explored the availability of these beverages at home, the school and neighborhood. Sugar-sweetened beverage availability in the home was associated with adolescent sugar sweetened beverage consumption, regardless of sugar-sweetened beverage availability in other settings.

Overweight and Obesity Rates Are Improving Among Massachusetts Public Schools but Not Among Those in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Districts
Childhood obesity is associated with many chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and sleep apnea. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that the body mass index (BMI) of children should be tracked over time, and the Institute of Medicine recommends that school systems track BMI. Since 2009, Massachusetts responded to these recommendations by measuring the BMI of children in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10. Community-based prevention programs should specifically target children in elementary schools in economically disadvantaged communities.

Are Our Youth Meeting Recommendations for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating?
Obesity rates among youth have tripled in recent decades, and are particularly high among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black youth. This is a problem, because adolescents who are obese are more likely to become obese adults and more likely to have chronic health conditions, a shorter life expectancy, and face social discrimination. The Federal Government has created recommendations for physical activity and healthy eating through Healthy People 2020 and 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Many national and local campaigns have shared these recommendations. The Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative has combined 4 recommendations into a simple message for youth in its a “Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0” program. The messages are to eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day, limit screen time (television, video games) to no more than 2 hours a day, be physically active for an hour or more a day, and avoid beverages that contain sugar, such as soda. In this study, low rates of children and adolescents meet recommended dietary and physical activity guidelines, and there are large differences among youth of difference racial/ethnic groups. Despite public health efforts, there has been little improvement in meeting the 5-2-1-0 targets. The one area of improvement is an increase in physical activity among adolescents.

How Obesity, Depression and Smoking Affect the Health and Productivity of School Staff and Their Students in Central Massachusetts High Schools
Obesity, depression and smoking affect the work of high school faculty and staff. These health risks can cause teachers and staff to be less productive at work, and to be absent from work more often. The lower productivity and increased staff absences can negatively influence the health of students and their academic success. Addressing employee health risks can improve their health and increase productivity, and help students learn the importance of taking care of their own health. This study found that there is an impact on everyone at school when teachers and staff are not feeling well while they are at school, and are absent more often. Teachers and staff who are obese, depressed, or who smoke may have lower job satisfaction, which can lead to high job turnover rates, and can even disrupt students’ education. Productive, healthy school staff can be role models for students and foster learning. They can contribute to students’ health-related education and even academic success.