Assessing the Acceptability and Feasibility of a School-Located Vaccination for Influenza Program In Elementary Schools

Background: Annual influenza vaccination, recommended for all children 6 months to 18 years, is most commonly received in primary care practices. However, as demand for vaccine increases, providers may not have the capacity to vaccinate all children. Schools provide an alternative setting for influenza vaccination.

Objectives: This study qualitatively assesses the acceptability and feasibility of a school-located vaccination for influenza (SLV-I) project that was conducted in New York State in 2009-2011. This SLV-I project utilized a private mass vaccinator and third party billing  Schools hosted clinics and authorized SLV-I communications to parents. Input from various stakeholders was elicited to understand and describe the perspectives of participants with different roles. 

Methods: Fourteen in-depth semi-structured interviews with participating schools’ personnel and the mass vaccinator were tape-recorded and transcribed. Interviewees were randomly selected from stratified lists and included five principals, five school nurses, two school administrators, and two lead personnel from the mass vaccinator. A content analysis of transcripts from the interviews was completed and several themes emerged.

Results: All participants generally found the SLV-I project acceptable. School principals and nurses desired to be active participants in planning and implementation, while being conflicted about the amount of time required. School administrators viewed the project as worthwhile.  The mass vaccinator appreciated SLV-I as a community partnership, but worried about the financial sustainability of the model.

Conclusions: School personnel and the vaccinator viewed the SLV-I project as feasible and beneficial.  However, the vaccinator identified difficulties with third-party billing as a potential threat to sustainability.