CPS seeks to renew Simpar contract for school vaccine and physical services; past year delivered nearly 10,000 doses

CPS's Office of Student Health and Wellness asked the board July 9 to authorize first and second renewals of an agreement with Simpar SC to provide school-based vaccine and school physical services. Ken Papinaw and Tara DiClemente told the committee that the district is seeking board authority to exercise both renewals (term 09/01/2025'08/31/2027) with a combined not-to-exceed amount of $6,000,000.

Staff said Simpar became an approved vendor in 2021 for COVID-19 vaccinations and expanded in November 2022 to provide routine pediatric immunizations and school physicals. Under the prior contract, Simpar delivered approximately 540 clinic events, produced 4,479 patient encounters (roughly 4,000 unique patients), delivered nearly 10,000 vaccine doses and provided more than 3,000 school physical examinations. Staff noted that about 60% of patients served were uninsured and that the program has reached students who otherwise lack access to care; the unit reported roughly 7,000 homeless students lacked documentation of required exams or vaccines at the end of June.

Board members raised questions about per-patient costs and sustainability. Papinaw clarified that last fiscal year CPS's actual spend was about $2.8 million (below the prior not-to-exceed amount of $4 million) and that the program has historically relied on FEMA and ARPA reimbursements and intermittent board funding. Staff said they are pursuing external philanthropic and partner funding (Children First Fund, foundations, Chicago Department of Public Health) and that contract renewal is needed to preserve vendor capacity while funding decisions are made. Members also discussed operational choices to increase per-event yield (vaccine-only events can administer up to 100 doses vs. smaller combined events), parental consent barriers and the possibility of leveraging large back-to-school events.

What this means: The renewals would preserve CPS's ability to run school clinic events targeting immunizations and required school physicals, particularly for uninsured and hard-to-reach students; staff said options exist to vary event format to improve cost effectiveness, but sustaining the program depends on securing external funds or board allocations.