Background: In 1997, the State of Florida expanded school immunization entrance requirements to include 7th grade Hepatitis B series, TD booster, and second MMR. The Orange County Immunization Coalition accepted the challenge of providing immunization services to facilitate compliance with these new requirements.
Methods: Year One: "Cool School Shots" initiative offering 6th graders three consecutive free immunization sessions at each of the 23 public middle schools. Immunizations were provided during school hours. Year Two: Family Service Center initiative offering biweekly immunizations in eight public school based clinics. Immunizations were provided after school hours with direct parental involvement. Year Three: Selected High Volume High Risk Schools strategy offering immunizations four times during the year at two month intervals in 16 select public middle schools. Immunizations were provided after school hours with direct parental involvement.
Results: Year One: 38% began their series and 48% completed. By the fall of 1997, 52% of the 7th graders were complete and 48% were partially immunized. Year Two: 20% began their immunization series and 38% completed. By the fall of 1998, 68% of the 7th graders were completely immunized and 31% partially immunized. Provite provider involvement increased substantially in year two. Year Three: 18% began their series and 63% completed. By the fall of 1999, 72% of 7th graders were completely immunized and 26% were partially immunized.
Conclusions: Three successful school shot initiatives were developed and implemented with ownership and active participation by a community partnership involving schools, parents, medical providers, and dedicated volunteers.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to develop strategies for implementation of adolescent immunization programs to meet school entry requirements utilizing community based collaborations and to evaluate the effectiveness of those strategies
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Evaluation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Florida Department of Health, Orange County Health Department
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.