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Implementing a School‐Located Vaccination Program in Denver Public Schools
Author(s) -
Shlay Judith C.,
Rodgers Sarah,
Lyons Jean,
Romero Scott,
Vogt Tara M.,
McCormick Emily V.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12281
Subject(s) - outreach , vaccination , family medicine , medicine , immunization , medical education , political science , immunology , antigen , law
BACKGROUND School‐located vaccination ( SLV ) offers an opportunity to deliver vaccines to students, particularly those without a primary care provider. METHODS This SLV program offered 2 clinics at each of 20 elementary schools (influenza vaccine) and 3 clinics at each of 7 middle/preschool—eighth‐grade schools (adolescent platform plus catch‐up vaccines) during the 2009‐2010 and 2010‐2011 school years. Established programmatic processes for immunization delivery in an outreach setting were used. Billing and vaccine inventory management processes were developed. Vaccines from the federal Vaccines for Children program were used for eligible students. Third‐party payers were billed for insured students; parents were not billed for services. RESULTS The proportion of enrolled students who received at least 1 dose of vaccine increased from year 1 to year 2 (elementary: 28% to 31%; middle: 12% to 19%). Issues identified and addressed included program planning with partners, development and implementation of billing processes, development of a solution to adhere to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requirements, development and utilization of an easy‐to‐comprehend consent form, and implementation of standard work procedures. CONCLUSIONS This SLV program offered an alternative approach for providing vaccinations to students outside of the primary care setting. To be successful, ongoing partnerships are needed.