A Pilot Study of the Effectiveness of a School-Based Influenza Vaccination Program

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a school-based influenza immunization program.Methods. Pupils and their families from 3 demographically similar elementary schools participated in this pilot, unblinded, controlled intervention study. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist) was made available to all eligible pupils in 1 target school during regular school hours. Two schools where vaccine was not offered served as control schools. All families from the 3 study schools were sent an anonymous questionnaire requesting 7-day recall data on fever or respiratory illness (FRI)-related medical visits, medications purchased, and days of school or paid work lost during the peak influenza week. Changes in weekly pupil absenteeism were also examined.Results. One hundred eighty-five (40%) of the target school pupils received vaccine, of whom >50% were vaccinated <3 weeks before the influenza outbreak period. Questionnaires were returned by 43% to 51% of households. Significant (45-70%) relative reductions in FRI-related outcomes, including doctor visits by adults or children, prescription or other medicines purchased, and family schooldays or workdays missed, were observed for target school households, compared with control school households. The increases in absenteeism rates during the influenza outbreak period, compared with baseline rates earlier in the fall, were not significantly different between target and control schools. Within the target school, however, the increase in absenteeism rates was significantly smaller for the FluMist-vaccinated pupils, compared with the non-FluMist-vaccinated pupils.Conclusions. This school-based influenza immunization program was associated with significant reductions in FRI-related outcomes in households of pupils attending an intervention school.

Pandemic Influenza Planning in the United States from a Health Disparities Perspective

“…In general, however, these plans do not adequately address preventing or minimizing socioeconomic or racial/ethnic disparities in vaccine distribution and acceptance, despite evidence that such disparities have been the rule for the annual infl uenza vaccine, even among persons >65 years of age (20). In the United States, routine use of annual infl uenza vaccine in preschool children has only recently been introduced; information focusing on school-age children is limited (21). Nevertheless, African American/black children and children from lower income families, who are at higher risk of contracting infl uenza (22) in this country, are less likely to be up to date with other routine immunizations (23).…”

Learning From Successful School‐Based Vaccination Clinics During 2009 pH1N1

“…[2][3][4] School-based vaccination programs have been shown to increase childhood vaccination rates for seasonal influenza. [5][6][7] However, the success of schoolbased distribution during pH1N1 varied in different locations across the country. 8,9 The variation in schoolbased clinics was not only geographic, but also included a variety of factors such as the process for vaccinating in schools, which schools were included in the vaccination process, and how parents were included in the process.…”

Private Pediatric Clinic Characteristics Associated with Influenza Immunization Efforts in the State of Georgia: A Pilot Evaluation

“…Because most morbidity occurs among persons ≥ 65 years [2], vaccination efforts traditionally have focused on the elderly [3]. However, increasing evidence indicates that children experience substantial influenza related morbidity [4,5], and a number of studies have produced suggestive findings that vaccination of children indirectly protects other community members by reducing the spread of influenza [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. In light of this information, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been expanding the categories of children for whom vaccination is recommended, and recently it advised that all children 6 months to 18 years be vaccinated annually [13].…”