Introduction Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people compared with non-Aboriginal people in Australia have higher rates of chronic conditions. These conditions increase the risk of poorer health outcomes if infected with COVID-19, highlighting the importance of COVID-19 vaccination. This study examined what Aboriginal people think about COVID-19 vaccines, reasons why they were vaccinated or not vaccinated and factors involved in receiving COVID-19 vaccination. Methods We used a participatory peer researcher method to interview 35 Aboriginal people aged 15–80 years living in Western Sydney, Australia. Local Aboriginal people who had ties with the community conducted the interviews. The questions and analyses were framed using the WHO’s Behavioural and Social Drivers of COVID-19 model. Interviews occurred between February 2021 and March 2021. Peer researchers were paid for their time in training and to conduct the interviews and each participant received $50. Results Reasons why participants would seek vaccination included: to protect themselves from infection and severe illness, to protect others in their community, to travel again and to return to ‘normal life’. Reasons why some participants were hesitant about being vaccinated included: fear of vaccine side effects; negative stories on social media; and distrust in Australian governments and medical institutions. Aboriginal people preferred to access COVID-19 vaccination through their local Aboriginal Health Service or a general practitioner they already knew. Conclusion Achieving high vaccination rates in Aboriginal communities is possible if vaccination programmes are delivered through trusted general practitioners or Aboriginal Health Services.

In Australia, higher rates of chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg) have been reported among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) compared with non-Indigenous people. In 2000, the Australian government implemented a universal infant/adolescent hepatitis B vaccination program. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the disparity of HBsAg prevalence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, particularly since 2000.

To examine the impact of the national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program (available to girls and women [12-26 years] since 2007 and to boys [12-15 years] since 2013) on the number of diagnoses of genital warts in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) people. Analysis of routinely collected data from patients attending 39 sexual health clinics (SHCs) in the Genital Warts Surveillance Network for the first time.Major outcome: The average annual proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous SHC patients diagnosed with genital warts during the pre-vaccination (2004-2007) and vaccination periods (2008-2014), stratified by age group and sex. 7.3% of the 215 599 Australian-born patients with known Indigenous status and seen for the first time at participating SHCs during 2004-2014 were Indigenous Australians. The average proportion of female Indigenous patients diagnosed with warts was lower during the vaccination period than during the pre-vaccination period (in those under 21, summary rate ratio [SRR], 0.12; 95% CI, 0.07-0.21; P < 0.001); in 21-30-year olds: SRR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.27-0.61; P < 0.001); there was no significant difference for women over 30 (SRR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.51-1.36; P = 0.47). The proportion of male Indigenous heterosexual SHC patients under 21 diagnosed with warts was also lower during the vaccination period (SRR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.49; P < 0.001), with no significant changes among older Indigenous men over 30. There were marked declines in the proportions of diagnoses of genital warts in young Indigenous women and men attending SHCs after the introduction of the HPV vaccination program. If high levels of HPV vaccine coverage are sustained, HPV-related cancer rates should also decline.

To assess notification trends for chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections in Indigenous Australians compared with non-Indigenous Australians in 2000-2009. We assessed trends in national notification rates using univariate Poisson regression and summary rate ratios. Crude notification rates and summary rate ratios, by Indigenous status, sex, age and area of residence. Over the 10-2012 period studied, chlamydia notification rates per 100,000 increased by 80% from 1383 in 2000 to 2494 in 2009 among Indigenous people, and by 335% from 51 in 2000 to 222 in 2009 among non-Indigenous people. The Indigenous versus non-Indigenous summary rate ratio was 23.92 (95% CI, 23.65-24.19; P<0.001). Gonorrhoea notification rates per 100,000 increased by 22% from 1347 in 2000 to 1643 in 2009 among Indigenous people, and by 70% from 10 in 2000 to 17 in 2009 among non-Indigenous people. The gonorrhoea summary notification rate ratio in Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous people was 173.78 (95% CI, 170.81-176.80; P<0.001). In Indigenous people, the highest chlamydia and gonorrhoea notification rates were in women, 15-19-2012-olds, and those living in remote areas. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea notification rates have increased in both populations but were higher among Indigenous people. Our findings highlight the need for targeted prevention programs for young people, especially Indigenous Australians residing in remote areas.

In Canada, approximately 52% of First Nations, Inuit and Métis (Indigenous) peoples live in urban areas. Although urban areas have some of the best health services in the world, little is known about the barriers or facilitators Indigenous peoples face when accessing these services. This review aims to fill these gaps in knowledge. Embase, Medline and Web of Science were searched from 1 January 1981 to 30 April 2020. A total of 41 studies identified barriers or facilitators of health service access for Indigenous peoples in urban areas. Barriers included difficult communication with health professionals, medication issues, dismissal by healthcare staff, wait times, mistrust and avoidance of healthcare, racial discrimination, poverty and transportation issues. Facilitators included access to culture, traditional healing, Indigenous-led health services and cultural safety. Policies and programs that remove barriers and implement the facilitators could improve health service access for Indigenous peoples living in urban and related homelands in Canada.

Higher rates of anxiety, depression, and attempted suicide are reported among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people compared with non-Indigenous people in Canada. This systematic review summarises the key components of mental health interventions among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science between January 1,1970, and August 30, 2019. Studies needed to be an intervention addressing suicide, depression, or anxiety. There were 14 studies: 8 quantitative, 2 qualitative, and 4 mixed methods. By geographical location, 5 were urban, 5 non-urban, and 4 included multiple areas. Beneficial interventions included ceremony, being on the land, engaging in traditional food gathering, culturally grounded indoor and outdoor activities, and the sharing of Indigenous knowledge by Elders.