School-Located Influenza Vaccination and Absenteeism Among Elementary School Students in a Hispanic Community

Abstract

Seasonal influenza is recognized as a significant health burden to children and is a cause of excess school absenteeism in children. In 2008, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended annual influenza vaccination for all children 6 months to 18 years of age. School nurses influence participation in this recommendation by conducting school-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) programs at their campuses. Knowing the effect of SLIV programs on student absenteeism may motivate school nurses and district administrators to conduct such vaccination programs. This study examines the impact of an SLIV program on elementary school absenteeism in an inner city school district with a predominantly Hispanic population. Using Poisson regression models with robust standard errors, we analyzed data from 3,775 records obtained by stratified random sampling. Results of the study indicate that students vaccinated through an SLIV program have fewer absences than unvaccinated students. A surprising result of the study shows that students vaccinated through an SLIV program had fewer absences than students vaccinated elsewhere. These results are of particular importance to school nurses who work with large Hispanic populations. Our study illustrates one way that a school nurse can assess the effect of an SLIV program on absenteeism.

School nurses: An investment in student achievement

“…For instance, every state requires that if students are not adequately immunized, they must be excluded from school. In schools that employ nurses, rates of immunization compliance are higher (Keck et al, 2013; Salmon et al, 2004; Wilson et al, 2013), which also results in stronger herd immunity (meaning that fewer vaccine-preventable infections spread to those who cannot be immunized). Thus, fewer students miss valuable learning time, which translates to less need for tutoring and other academic services, and fewer teachers call in sick.…”

“…For instance, every state requires that if students are not adequately immunized, they must be excluded from school. In schools that employ nurses, rates of immunization compliance are higher (Keck et al, 2013;Salmon et al, 2004;Wilson et al, 2013), which also results in stronger herd immunity (meaning that fewer nurse cover multiple schools, or not have a school nurse at all (Willgerodt et al, 2018).…”

Increasing Immunization Rates Through the Immunization Neighborhood Recognizing School-Located Immunization Programs

“…While many articles about SLVC are focused on providing seasonal influenza vaccine, the lessons learned are transferable to providing other recommended vaccines. Some of the positive outcomes of providing influenza vaccine in SLVC include reducing school absenteeism; increasing herd immunity and thus providing protection for those most vulnerable in the community; reducing the parental burden of missing work for preventive health care visits; and reducing the burden on primary care (Hull & Ambrose, 2011;Keck, Ynalvez, Gonzalez, & Castillo, 2013;Loeb et al, 2010;Plaspohl et al, 2014;Reichert et al, 2001). School nurses report increasing interest in being involved in SLVC (Kinne & Bobo, 2010).…”