
Home \| Eradicating Tropical Diseases \| Improving Maternal Health \| Health Care for Children \| Health Care for At-Risk Populations

Expanding Access for At-Risk Populations

Issue

“Each year 36,000 Americans die from the flu and 200,000 are hospitalized. In 2006 less than half of adults aged 50+ and even fewer African Americans and Hispanics received a flu shot.”

— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Funding

Just 10% of domestic giving for health in 2007 funded broader health care access for underserved populations

Challenge

How can we more effectively bring preventive medicine to at-risk populations?

Strategy

Marshal public health agencies to provide vaccinations at convenient times and locations

— “Vote & Vax” Project

Case Study

“Vote & Vax” Project

Launched in 2004 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) and SPARC (Sickness Prevention Achieved Through Regional Collaboration)
Goal is to increase flu vaccination rates for older and other at-risk Americans
Partners with local public health providers and election authorities to operate vaccination clinics at polling places on Election Day
RWJ invested nearly $750,000 to expand the program geographically in 2008 and 2009

Results

On Election Day 2008, immunized more than 21,000 people — two-thirds in high-risk groups
Clinics at more than 330 sites in 42 states and DC
Doubled number of clinics between 2006 and 2008
If the program were available at all polling places, 20 million vaccinations could be delivered

Research Sources

CDC Says Immunizations Reduce Deaths From Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease Among Older Adults
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
6/2008

Vote & Vax

Clinic Finder

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Vote & Vax: Seizing an Opportunity for a Public Health Intervention
10/24/2008

Convenience is Key to Adult Flu Vaccinations
10/15/2008

Programs and Grants: Vulnerable Populations

Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration