A Targeted Approach for Selecting Schools for H1N1 School-Located Vaccination Efforts

Background: The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic required outreach and vaccination efforts that would ensure recommended groups were vaccinated.  School-located Vaccination (SLV) is one model to access 5-18 year olds and surrounding community members. In a large Health Jurisdiction, where demand outweighed supply, targeting the schools with least access through other means was crucial.

Setting: Large Urban Health Jurisdiction

Population: School aged children and community members eligible for H1N1 vaccination.

Project Description: Multiple strategies were developed to conduct SLV H1N1 clinics.  A Flu Tool Kit was developed containing customizable resources to encourage parents to immunize children for both seasonal and H1N1 influenza. School independently plans and runs event in its entirety, including determination of date and location, advertising, disseminating forms, staffing, screening and vaccinating students.     Schools with limited capacity partnered with the Department of Public Health (DPH). Mass vaccinators, contracted by DPH provided vaccination services.  Mobile van units were also utilized to provide vaccinations at schools. Post DPH Community Mass Vaccination Clinics:  Implementation of phase two.  Algorithm developed determined schools with the highest need and lowest accessibility to H1N1 vaccine thus far. Three data sources were utilized to identify pockets of need for increased H1N1 access.  Using indicators to show where vaccine was already distributed through DPH mass clinics, local private providers, school free lunch data (used as proxy for SES), schools were identified that fall within the areas that have had the most limited access.  Outreach efforts were made to provide assistance in organizing a school-located vaccination clinic at the identified schools and DPH facilitated the planning and implementation of the vaccination efforts.

Results/Lessons Learned: With limited vaccine supply, schools were challenged to provide vaccination services in their communities.  To date, approximately 10,000 students, siblings and surrounding community members were immunized through these models.