The Abc's of Delivering Inschool Influenza Vaccine

Background:
In August of 2007, the Washington State Department of Health Immunization Program offered local public health immunization programs the opportunity to participate in a program utilizing intranasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) for children. The state program would provide vaccine to participating local health departments free of charge, and requested that the local health departments collect demographic information, and survey parents and/or children as to the acceptability of the LAIV delivered via the intranasal route.

Setting:
We chose to provide vaccine at inner city elementary schools with on site Head Start.

Population:
Minority and low-income children receive influenza vaccination at lower levels; therefore, we wanted to target schools with a high percentage of students who receive free or reduced lunch. Both schools had over 90% free lunch qualified students.

Project Description:
: Schools were chosen by willingness of school staff to participate and the percentage of free school lunches. Screening forms were developed and sent home to parents with a cover letter and current VIS in both English and Spanish. Questionnaires were returned to the school and screened by nurses from the LHJ. Screening determined which vaccine (LAIV or TIV) each child needed and who needed follow up second doses. Forms were developed to send home to parents after vaccines. Parents were called to clarify any needed information. Vaccines were delivered at school by nurses from the LHJ, children's hospital immunization nurse and senior nursing students from a local four year college. A return visit 4-6 weeks later was made to deliver second doses when needed. All vaccines were entered into the state vaccine registry.

Results/Lessons Learned:
1.Schools are a convenient and viable setting for the delivery of yearly influenza vaccine.
2. LAIV is an easy and acceptable vaccine for immunizing groups of children.
3.Inschool provision of influenza vaccine can help decrease inequities in influenza protection for children.