In-School Flu Shots Boost Vaccination Rates In Some Areas

School-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) improves the rates of influenza vaccination in adolescents attending suburban schools, according to a recent study.

From 2015 to 2016, the researchers assessed the impact of SLIV on 17,650 adolescent students attending 10 pairs of schools (20 schools overall). Each school was randomly assigned within pairs to SLIV or usual care (control).
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Parents of students from 8 suburban SLIV schools were sent email notifications regarding upcoming SLIV clinics and promoted online immunization consent. Due to email unavailability, parents of students from 2 urban SLIV schools were sent paper immunization consent forms and information about SLIV via student backpack fliers.

Nasal or injectable influenza vaccines were administered by local health department nurses at dedicated SLIV clinics and billed insurers. School directories were used to compare the rates of influenza vaccination rates at SLIV schools vs control schools, and the state immunization registry was used to determine receipt of influenza vaccination.

Findings from the study showed that overall influenza vaccination rates were higher among adolescents at suburban SLIV schools (51%) vs control schools (46%). However, according to multivariate analysis, SLIV did not affect the rates of vaccination in urban schools.

The researchers noted that SLIV did not substitute for vaccinations in primary care or other settings. However, in suburban settings, SLIV was associated with improved vaccination rates in primary care and other settings (adjusted odds ratio, 1.10).

“SLIV in this community increased influenza vaccination rates among adolescents attending suburban schools,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Szilagyi PG, Schaffer S, Rand CM, et al. School-located influenza vaccinations for adolescents: a randomized controlled trial [Published online December 13, 2017]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.09.021.