Parental views of school-located delivery of adolescent vaccines

School-located immunization has the potential to increase adolescent vaccination rates. This study assessed parents' attitudes toward administration of adolescent vaccines (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis [Tdap], meningococcal conjugate [MenACWY], human papillomavirus [HPV], and influenza) at school.

We conducted a mailed survey of parents of sixth graders from July 2009 to September 2009 in three urban/suburban (Aurora, CO) middle schools assessing barriers and facilitators to school vaccination and willingness to consent for vaccines at school. Unadjusted and adjusted analyses examined the association of parent and student characteristics with parent willingness to consent to school-located vaccination.

The response rate was 62% (500/806). Parents reported 82% of teens had a regular site of health care, and 17% were uninsured. Overall, 71% of parents would consent for vaccines at school; 72% for Tdap, 71% for MenACWY, 53% for HPV (parents of girls), and 67% for seasonal influenza. Among parents who answered it was important their child receives recommended vaccines, (88%) would consent for influenza vaccine at school, compared with Tdap (76%), MenACWY (74%), and HPV (72%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated parents of uninsured teens (odds ratio [OR] 3.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40, 12.23), who were unmarried (OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.25), or had a child attending the school with the highest percent eligibility for free/reduced lunch (OR 2.75, 95% CI: 1.36, 5.80) were significantly more willing to consent for vaccines at school.

These data suggest parents are generally supportive of school-located vaccine delivery, particularly for annual influenza vaccination and for uninsured and low-income adolescents.