Abstract
Immunization policies and access to vaccines have significantly contributed to a reduction in childhood morbidity and mortality from communicable diseases. The development of vaccines has been hailed as one of the top ten accomplishments in public health. Despite these achievements, children who live in poverty are less likely to complete the recommended immunizations, and, therefore, are more vulnerable to contracting preventable diseases. Disparities in immunization rates also exist among children of color who tend to have inadequate immunization coverage. In addition, recent closures of many public-funded clinics that provide free or low-cost vaccines as a result of the economic downturn compound the issue of vaccine access for uninsured or under-insured families. The purpose of this project was to address disparities related to immunization rates among children of low socio-economic status by creating a nurse-run vaccine clinic through a community-academic partnership. A community partnership was created between a school of nursing, a community-based center, and a public health agency to determine the feasibility of a nurse-run free or very low-cost vaccine clinic. Through a partnership with the federal-funded Vaccine for Children’s Program (VFC) and the California Immunization Registry (CAIR), the team established a free vaccine clinic at a drop-in community center for homeless and marginalized youth. The center was chosen because of its location in a low-resourced neighborhood and its established relationship with the school of nursing and ability to provide space for the clinic. The project resulted in a sustainable nurse-run vaccine clinic that was housed in an accessible community center. The vaccine clinic was co-managed by a nursing faculty and a manager at the community agency. Students in the school’s RN to BSN program ran the clinic as part of their community health experience. The projected permitted nursing students to provide a critical service to an underserved community while learning about population-based health. The clinic also allowed the students to gain access to underserved families whom they were able to refer to other community resources, assist with insurance applications, provide health education, and connect to a medical home. Since January 2011, the students have provided over 1,300 individual vaccines to children and adolescents. Parents who accessed the clinic reported that they were able to enroll their children in school sooner as a result of the clinic’s accessibility and their ability to fulfill the necessary immunization requirements for school enrollment. The clinic also became an important resource for local schools as a result of a new law in California requiring Tdap boosters for adolescents. Outcomes of this project indicate that academic centers and community agencies can successfully collaborate and mutually benefit from such a partnership.
