PHILADELPHIA, PA, August 25, 2023— More than one thousand School District of Philadelphia students received vaccinations and physicals through District events in partnership with Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc. (DVCH), CityLife Health, and the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity (ASHE). As National Immunization Awareness Month closes, the District will host some final opportunities for families leading up to the new school year.
“As school approaches and families are checking their vaccination records to make sure they are up-to-date, we are proud to partner with families and community organizations to provide local opportunities for families to access free, timely, state-required immunizations to protect their children’s health and ensure students are meeting the state requirements to be in school for the first day of school,” said Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D. “These partnerships overall protect students’ health, remove access barriers, and reduce absenteeism and missed class time.”
The remaining events include:
August 30, 31, 2023 – School District of Philadelphia
Headquarters (440 N. Broad Street) – 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
September 5, 6, 8, 2023 – School District of Philadelphia Headquarters (440 N. Broad Street) – 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Throughout the past school year and through August, the District has held 75 vaccination and physical events in partnership with CityLife Health, Delaware Valley Community Health, and Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity.
In addition, the District provides free in-school immunizations, sports physicals, and school physicals throughout the school year for sixth through twelfth- grade students at schools with higher rates of vaccine non-compliance. This multi-tiered effort in addition to the diligent work of the District’s school nurses, has resulted in the District having a vaccine non-compliance rate in June of 3.3 percent for enrolled students ages 18 and under.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a national decline in the percentage of children receiving their routine vaccinations. In an effort to improve access to vaccinations required for school attendance, we have intentionally partnered with multiple organizations to provide vaccination opportunities to families for their children, regardless of their insurance status,” said Kendra McDow, MD, MPH, FAAP, medical officer at the School District of Philadelphia.
CityLife Health offered students, including those who are uninsured and undocumented, the opportunity to receive these immunizations at summer school locations, on the District’s Back-to-School Bus Tour, and at their clinic locations.
DVCH is providing back-to-school immunization clinics at the Maria de los Santos Health Center. ,…
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