Expanding upon the health system’s successful mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic model, SSM Health is now offering common school-required vaccinations in safe, community settings. Over the past year, the health system has partnered with area school districts, Public Health Madison Dane County and area health and insurance partners to bring important vaccines out to community events like school registration, community events and individual schools.
 
These additional partnerships helped SSM Health identify which vaccines area families were falling behind on during the pandemic to prioritize making them more readily available in the community. Through coordination with area school districts and public health, this team offers COVID-19, influenza, Hepatitis B, HPV, Meningococcal, MMR, Polio, Tdap and Varicella vaccines. Vaccines are often offered on a walk-in basis, team members verify which vaccines are needed with the state immunization registry, then the vaccines are given on site by volunteer vaccinators. As part of this partnership, SSM Health provides vaccine product, staff to prepare vaccines, as well as operational support for each clinic.
 
To date, the mobile vaccine clinic team has coordinated 159 multi-vaccine clinics across our service area. Additional clinics are scheduled this fall at area community sites and schools. These mobile clinics, held during school registration, picture days and parent teacher conferences, are well received. Additional clinics are hosted during community celebrations and at locations that serve individuals who may have barriers to accessing traditional healthcare settings. Families often express their gratitude for the additional access to vaccines in convenient, safe and trusted community settings.