Maine's Success Story – H1N1 School Influenza Vaccination Efforts, 2009-2010

Background:  During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, children and adolescents were identified as being at higher risk for infection. Maine, in collaboration with local health jurisdictions and other key partners, implemented a state-wide vaccination program targeting students in grades K-12 through mass clinics located primarily at school.

Objectives:  A school survey was developed to 1) determine the scope of school influenza vaccination (SIV) clinics 2) characterize clinic approaches and 3) identify associations between clinic, school and other characteristics and school-level vaccination coverage.

Methods:  Public and private schools were invited to participate in the survey. The web-based, survey was sent to the school nurse or contact via email and fielded from April through June 2010. Questions included characteristics of the first H1N1 SIV clinic and all first H1N1 doses administered during student-focused school efforts.

Results:  Of the 646 schools surveyed 82% (531) fully or partially completed the survey, and of these 98% (520) reported either conducting or participating in at least one H1N1 SIV clinic. A majority of the first H1N1 SIV clinics were conducted during school hours (77%), did not require parent presence (76%), were held at the school (77%), and did not require students to be transported to another location (70%). For 14% of clinics, parental presence was required for all grades and 6% reported student bussing to another location, Overall mean and median school coverage was 49% (range 2%-92%; data available for 414 schools). For half the schools, coverage ranged 40%-60%. Bivariate and multivariable analyses are pending.

Conclusions:  A majority of Maine’s first H1N1 SIV clinics were conducted at school, during school hours though other models were also utilized. Although overall mean school coverage was high in Maine, there was substantial variation in school coverage levels.