Coordination costs for school-located influenza vaccination clinics, Maine, 2009 H1N1 pandemic

J Sch Nurs. 2012 Oct;28(5):328-35. doi: 10.1177/1059840512448676. Epub 2012 Jun 11.

Abstract

School nurses played a key role in Maine's school-located influenza vaccination (SLV) clinics during the 2009-2010 pandemic season. The objective of this study was to determine, from the school district perspective, the labor hours and costs associated with outside-clinic coordination activities (OCA). The authors defined OCA as labor hours spent by staff outside of clinic operations. The authors surveyed a convenience sample of 10 school nurses from nine school districts. Eight nurses responded to the survey, representing seven districts, 45 schools and 84 SLV clinics that provided a total of 22,596 vaccine doses (H1N1 and seasonal combined) to children and adolescents. The mean total OCA time per clinic was 69 hours: out of total hours, 22 (36%) were spent outside regular clinic operation time. The authors estimated the mean cost of OCA to be $15.36 per dose. Survey respondents reported that costs would be lower during non-pandemic seasons and as schools become more proficient at planning clinics.

MeSH terms

  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs / economics*
  • Immunization Programs / statistics & numerical data
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype*
  • Influenza, Human / economics*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control
  • Maine
  • Public Health
  • School Health Services / economics*
  • School Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • School Nursing / economics*
  • School Nursing / statistics & numerical data