Maryland Elementary SchoolMaryland Elementary SchoolInfluenza Vaccination ProjectInfluenza Vaccination Project

Greg Reed, MPA

Program Manager

Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene

How to Give Kids Shots in the NoseHow to Give Kids Shots in the Nose

•• BackgroundBackground

•• ModelsModels

•• ResultsResults

•• Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

BackgroundBackground2005-2006 Influenza Season:2005-2006 Influenza Season:

•• Two school-based pilot projects conductedTwo school-based pilot projects conducted

•• Results - decreased student and staffResults - decreased student and staffabsenteeism due to influenza-likeabsenteeism due to influenza-likeillnesses:illnesses:

Directly, in schools where the kids receivedDirectly, in schools where the kids receivedthe vaccine; andthe vaccine; and

Indirectly, in middle and high schoolsIndirectly, in middle and high schools(Perhaps due to decreased risk of exposure(Perhaps due to decreased risk of exposureto sick elementary school-aged children).to sick elementary school-aged children).

BackgroundBackground

April 2006 Health Officers recommend:April 2006 Health Officers recommend:

Statewide school influenza vaccination projectStatewide school influenza vaccination project

Targeted to 5-11 yr. olds (estimated 500,000)Targeted to 5-11 yr. olds (estimated 500,000)

No charge to parentsNo charge to parents

No charge to local school or health dept.No charge to local school or health dept.

Exercise mass vaccination in school settingExercise mass vaccination in school setting

Begin 2006 Flu SeasonBegin 2006 Flu Season

Are You Kidding?Are You Kidding?

BackgroundBackground

•• Aug. 2006 MedImmune, State, CDC agreeAug. 2006 MedImmune, State, CDC agreeto support the projectto support the project

•• All 24 local health depts. agree toAll 24 local health depts. agree toparticipateparticipate

•• Sept. 2006 Governor announced projectSept. 2006 Governor announced project

Calvert ModelCalvert Model

•• StudentsStudentsvaccinated atvaccinated atschool siteschool site

•• Non-school hoursNon-school hours

•• Parents notified toParents notified tobring student &bring student &sign consentsign consent

Calvert ModelCalvert Model

•• Similar to mass fluSimilar to mass fluclinicclinic

•• No loss ofNo loss ofclassroom timeclassroom time

•• Staffing issuesStaffing issues

•• Very impatientVery impatientchildrenchildren

Carroll ModelCarroll Model

•• Students vaccinatedStudents vaccinatedduring school hoursduring school hours

•• Students escorted inStudents escorted insmall groupssmall groups

•• Parents sign consentParents sign consentform in advanceform in advance

Carroll ModelCarroll Model

•• Students in classStudents in class

•• Limited staffingLimited staffingneeded at clinicneeded at clinic

•• Loss of 20 min. ofLoss of 20 min. ofclass timeclass time

•• Distribution / TrackingDistribution / Trackingof consent formsof consent forms

•• Verifying consentVerifying consentformsforms

What’s your mother’sWhat’s your mother’sname?name?

MommyMommy

ResultsResults

•• Distributed more than 114,000 influenzaDistributed more than 114,000 influenzadosesdoses

•• Influenza clinics held at 600 schoolsInfluenza clinics held at 600 schoolsstatewidestatewide

•• Flu vaccine provided to more than 100Flu vaccine provided to more than 100private providers to give at no cost toprivate providers to give at no cost to5-11 yr. olds5-11 yr. olds

•• Some counties vaccinated more than 40%Some counties vaccinated more than 40%of 5-11 year olds in the school settingof 5-11 year olds in the school setting

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned•• Private providerPrivate provider

resistanceresistance•• More needed to getMore needed to get

their support andtheir support andcooperation earliercooperation earlier

•• Parents call doctor toParents call doctor toask what they shouldask what they shoulddodo

•• Future impact?Future impact?•• “Who do I send my flu“Who do I send my flu

vaccine bill to?”vaccine bill to?”

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

•• Advance planning isAdvance planning iscriticalcritical

•• Development of clearDevelopment of clearuser-friendly materialsuser-friendly materials

•• Attention focused onAttention focused onschool systemschool system

•• Respect schoolRespect schoolnursesnurses

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

•• Nursing and parentalNursing and parentalvolunteers neededvolunteers needed

•• Some parents didSome parents didresist and spoke outresist and spoke out

•• Parents like freeParents like freevaccinevaccine

•• Vaccine orderingVaccine orderingestimates veryestimates veryimportantimportant

“No shots in the nose, please”“No shots in the nose, please”