title: The impact of mass school immunization on school attendance.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact a free, on-site influenza immunization program could have on attendance in Title 1 schools. Four Title 1 elementary schools participated in the study. Students at 2 schools were offered free FluMist immunizations on site, and students at 2 control schools were not. Compliance on receiving FluMist was measured on the percentage of students participating after evaluating for medical exclusions. Documentation on the reason for absences at all 4 schools included self- or parent-reported influenza. Attendance rates for the year also were compared with the previous year for all 4 schools. A comparison was done of total days absent versus total days enrolled between schools receiving FluMist and schools not receiving the vaccine. Despite the fact that FluMist is a new vaccine and is not required for children, 57% of those medically eligible to receive it had parental permission and received the vaccine. The 2 schools receiving FluMist increased their attendance rates from 95.3% and 93.9% to 96.1% and 95.8%. Previously, the comparison schools each had a 94.6% attendance rate; one fell to 94.4% and the other rose very slightly to 94.7%. The differences in self- or parent-reported influenza absences were not significant. However, the difference in days absent between individual vaccinated and nonvaccinated schools was statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Community Nursing, Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Specialty Clinics, Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Wiggs-Stayner
authors.forename: Teresa R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Purdy
authors.forename: Gailya N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Natalie C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Penny S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tryzynka
authors.forename: Joyce R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sines
authors.forename: Thein
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hlaing
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007196:Indiana; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*