(P138) THE APPLICATION OF A WEIGHTED LINEAR MODEL AS A VULNERABILITY INDEX TO GUIDE MPOX OUTREACH EFFORTS IN ORANGE COUNTY, FL−2023

Background:
Mpox (MPX) is an emergent, viral, rash-producing illness. Identified risk factors include coinfection with HIV, a recent sexually transmitted infection (STI), and men who have sex with men. The Jynneos vaccine may lower the risk and severity of MPX infection. After the recent muti-country outbreak of non-endemic MPX, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange), a county with previously elevated transmission, sought to maintain MPX outreach efforts and prioritize underreached populations at greater risk.

Methods:
A weighted linear model was developed to characterize census tracts (CTs) of greatest vulnerability to MPX infections based on four explanatory variables. The rates of STIs, prevalence of HIV, past MPX infections, and Jynneos naivety rate all among each CT were incorporated into the model. Weights were assigned to coefficients based on the documented correlation of each variable to mpox incidence. These calculations were run for all CTs, and higher indices were prioritized for a geofenced social marketing campaign to promote DOH-Orange immunizations and HIV/STD testing services. In addition, higher indexed CTs were targeted by epidemiology strike teams for public health intervention.

Results:
The model resulted in the top 10% of CTs, ranked by index and clustered immediately around the downtown Orlando Area. These areas were subsequently covered by eight geofences. There was a 120% increase in Jynneos doses administered after the launch of the geofencing campaign which reached 868,000 impressions, mostly through mobile applications.

Conclusion:
Using risk factors identified from the 2022 multi-country outbreak of MPX, a weighted linear model informed the vulnerability of CTs within Orange County. The CTs were prioritized for a geofenced social marketing campaign. There was a coincident increase in community uptake during the campaign period. Despite limited resources, the application of this model may be beneficial for other public health agencies to specifically target underreached and at-risk populations.