This report, published by the Immunize Kansas Kids (IKK) project, found that school-based influenza immunization campaigns are a viable way to vaccinate large numbers of children in short periods of time.
These campaigns, however, can present several challenges. They can be expensive because in addition to the cost of immunizing each student, there are the additional costs of organizing and implementing the program. Other challenges include advertising the program to students and parents, coordinating activities between school districts and local health departments, and scheduling clinics around regular academic activities. Campaigns are more likely to be successful in addressing these challenges if they are organized and implemented locally and if they combine organizational models suitable to each local situation. State agencies also can play important roles in facilitating school-based influenza immunization campaigns.
The Immunize Kansas Kids (IKK) program is a collaboration among more than 30 stakeholder organizations that has as its goal increasing the immunization rate in Kansas to 90 percent and maintaining it at that level.