Austin Public Health and AISD Collaborate on Summer Vaccine Initiative for School Compliance

The Austin Public Health Commission convened on September 3, 2025, to discuss a collaborative pilot project aimed at improving vaccination rates among students in the Austin Independent School District (AISD). The initiative, known as Austin Voices for Education (AV), partnered with Austin Public Health (APH) to address declining compliance rates in vaccinations, particularly in light of increased vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic.

The meeting began with a preliminary report on the summer vaccination pilot, which was designed to catch students up on required vaccines before the new school year. The report highlighted that while some school districts had improved compliance rates, AISD had seen a slight decrease in vaccination compliance from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2023-2024 school year.

The pilot project utilized a mobile vaccination program and aimed to leverage community resources, including AV's Family Resource Centers, to facilitate access to vaccinations. The program scheduled clinics during evenings and weekends to accommodate working families, addressing a common barrier to vaccination access.

During the summer months of June and July, APH clinics typically experienced lower demand for vaccinations. The pilot sought to capitalize on this by identifying students who needed vaccinations and providing them with the necessary services. AV utilized promotoras—community health workers—to assist families in completing paperwork and navigating the vaccination process, which proved beneficial in reducing administrative burdens.

The report detailed the operational aspects of the clinics, including the scheduling of six off-hour clinics, although only five were ultimately conducted. A total of 122 planned appointments were made, resulting in 104 students receiving vaccinations. The clinics also served 19 additional siblings, demonstrating a family-centered approach to healthcare.

Data collected indicated that a significant number of students identified as needing vaccinations were already compliant, highlighting a potential area for further education and communication with schools to prevent unnecessary appointments.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further analyze the data collected during the pilot, with plans to assess its impact on vaccination compliance rates once updated data becomes available in 2025. The collaborative model was noted to have provided anecdotal benefits to all partners involved, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in public health initiatives.