A Medical Student-Driven "Vaccine Blitz" at a School-Based Health Center as an Effective Way to Improve Adolescent Vaccination Rates.
Fam Med 2015;
47:546-548. [PMID:
26562643]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Adolescent vaccine rates are below goal in the United States. We sought to assess a medical student driven "vaccine blitz" at a middle school with a school-based health center (SBHC) as a means to increase vaccination.
METHODS
Written and/or verbal consent was obtained for specific vaccines needed. Vaccines were given at the SBHC by a team of medical students, public health students, and SBHC staff. Students who received vaccines at the SBHC or primary care physician's (PCP's) office in the 3 weeks after consent was attempted were included as participating in the intervention.
RESULTS
Of 184 potential participants, 183 lacked at least one vaccine. On the day of the vaccine blitz, 48 students were given 94 vaccines. During the entire intervention time, an additional 14 students received 38 vaccines at the SBHC, and 23 students received 34 vaccines from their PCP. In sum, 85 students received 166 vaccines from this intervention. Immunization rates increased above the state average for all recommended vaccines; rates of HPV, hepatitis A, and influenza vaccination were most affected.
CONCLUSIONS
Medical student-driven vaccine blitzes within an SBHC are a feasible, replicable, and effective way to increase adolescent vaccination rates. In addition, the blitz provided preclinical medical students' exposure to underserved populations, adolescent health as part of the breadth of family medicine, SBHCs, and community medicine and allowed for multidisciplinary work between medical students, public health students, physicians, and nurse practitioners.
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