Journal of Vaccine Research 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 76-84 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/jvr 76 Feature Review Open Access The Role of School-Based Vaccination Programs in Improving Coverage Xiaojuan Liu The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China Corresponding email: xiaojuanliu@sina.com Journal of Vaccine Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/jvr.2024.14.0009 Received: 25 Mar., 2024 Accepted: 30 Apr., 2024 Published: 10 May, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Liu, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Liu X.J., 2024, The role of school-based vaccination programs in improving coverage, Journal of Vaccine Research, 14(2): 76-84 (doi: 10.5376/jvr.2024.14.0009) Abstract The analysis revealed that school-based vaccination programs can significantly enhance vaccine coverage. Educational interventions, reminders, provider-directed interventions, financial incentives, and multilevel interventions were found to improve vaccination rates among children and adolescents. Additionally, school-based programs were effective in delivering vaccines such as the influenza vaccine and the HPV vaccine, achieving high coverage rates and reducing illness incidence. School-based vaccination programs are a viable and effective strategy for increasing vaccination coverage among school-aged children and adolescents. These programs benefit from the structured school environment, which facilitates the organization and delivery of vaccines. Future efforts should focus on optimizing these programs by addressing logistical challenges and ensuring stakeholder engagement to maximize their impact on public health. The study aimed to evaluate the role of school-based vaccination programs in improving vaccination coverage among school-aged children and adolescents and analyze various interventions and their effectiveness to identify key factors that contribute to higher vaccination rates within the school setting. Keywords School-based vaccination; Immunization coverage; Public health intervention; Stakeholder engagement; Vaccination programs 1 Introduction Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions for preventing infectious diseases and reducing associated morbidity and mortality. Immunization programs have historically focused on infants and young children, achieving significant reductions in global infant and child mortality rates (Das et al., 2016). However, despite these successes, vaccination coverage remains suboptimal in many regions, leading to the persistence of vaccine-preventable diseases (Jacob et al., 2016; Vann et al., 2018; Mcfadden and Seale, 2020). The complexity of immunization schedules and the increasing demands on primary care providers further complicate efforts to achieve optimal vaccination rates (Vann et al., 2018). School-based vaccination programs have emerged as a promising strategy to improve immunization coverage among school-aged children and adolescents. These programs leverage the school setting to reach a large population efficiently, ensuring that vaccines are administered in a controlled and accessible environment (King et al., 2006; Pan et al., 2017; Feldstein et al., 2020). Evidence suggests that school-based vaccination can significantly reduce the incidence of diseases such as influenza, with high vaccination coverage and matched vaccines leading to fewer outbreaks (Pan et al., 2017). Additionally, school-based programs have been shown to increase vaccination rates and reduce influenza-like illness (ILI) among students and their household members (Lau et al., 2019). Despite these benefits, the impact of school-based clinics and policy interventions on overall vaccination coverage remains uncertain, highlighting the need for further research (Siddiqui et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of school-based vaccination programs in improving vaccination coverage among school-aged children and adolescents, synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness of these programs, identify key factors for their success, and provide recommendations for optimizing their implementation. By examining a variety of interventions, including educational initiatives, reminders, and policy changes, this study hopes to provide a comprehensive picture of how school-based vaccination programs can improve public health outcomes. These findings will inform policymakers, educators, and health care providers on
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