Increasing immunization rates through the immunization neighborhood recognizing school-located immunization programs

Vaccines are considered one of the top 10 public health achievements in the United States; however, coverage rates for many of the recommended child and adolescent vaccines fall short of Healthy People 2020 goals. The vaccine delivery infrastructure in our country might be the most important limiting factor in achieving the vaccine uptake targets. Renewing the focus on schools for both vaccine delivery and vaccine promotion has the potential to augment other emerging alternate vaccination sites within the immunization neighborhood. School nurses are leading the way, and three national award winners are recognized for their immunization programming efforts. All school nurses can be immunization champions, advocating for the role of schools as key sites to promote the importance of vaccines in protecting the health and ensuring academic success of the students they serve.