Reaching children never previously vaccinated for influenza through a school-located vaccination program.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the success of the school-located vaccination (SLV) program, implemented in 2009 in New York City to deliver pandemic influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine (pH1N1), versus provider offices in reaching children who had never previously received influenza vaccine.


METHODS
We compared the immunization history of children vaccinated in school versus provider offices. We included records in the Citywide Immunization Registry with pH1N1 administered between October 2009 and March 2010 to elementary school-aged children.


RESULTS
In total, 96,524 children received pH1N1 vaccine in schools, and 102,933 children received pH1N1 vaccine in provider offices. Of children vaccinated in schools, 34% had never received seasonal influenza vaccination in the past, compared with only 10% of children vaccinated at provider offices (P < .001). Children vaccinated in schools were more likely to have received a second dose of pH1N1 in 2009-2010 than those vaccinated in provider offices (80% vs 45%).


CONCLUSIONS
The SLV program was more successful at reaching children who had never received influenza immunization in the past and should be considered as a strategy for delivering influenza vaccine in routine and emergency situations.
Susan M. Kansagra, Vikki Papadouka, Anita Geevarughese, and Kevin J. Konty are with and Michael A. Hansen was with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, NY. Jane R. Zucker is with the Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, assigned to the Bureau of Immunization, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY.
Susan M
SM
Kansagra
Vikki
V
Papadouka
Anita
A
Geevarughese
Michael A
MA
Hansen
Kevin J
KJ
Konty
Jane R
JR
Zucker
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines