Grant Incentivizes Vaccines

Jan 15, 2020

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Through a collaboration with USD 465 Winfield nursing staff, City-Cowley County Health Department, and Dr. Todd Peters of William Newton Pediatrics, a $2,650 Pediatricians in Action grant was awarded in 2019 by the Kansas Pediatric Foundation.

“This was the first year for this fund,” commented Peters. “It’s exciting to be an early recipient and to be a part of this collaborative effort.”

The focus of the joint projects has been for these partners to take steps toward improving child vaccination rates in Winfield. Grant funds have been used for education, marketing, and prizes.

All students who received their flu shots at the school-based clinics were entered into a drawing for Amazon gift cards. Student winners included Aria Burroughs, 1st grader at Whittier Elementary and Addilyn Salts, 2nd grader at Lowell Elementary.

Now in the second year of the grant, the partners will focus on adolescents. They will be working with Winfield High School in the spring of 2020 to increase vaccinations for HPV (human papillomavirus) and meningitis.

According to Lorri Greenlee, MHCL, BSN, RN, Coordinator of Health Services at USD 465, most childhood vaccines are covered at 100 percent. For the school-based clinics, the City-Cowley County Health Department submits a claim to the student's health insurance/medical card. Parents who choose to participate will need to complete the vaccine consent form and provide a copy of their insurance card.

The City-Cowley County Health Department will also be offering spring vaccine clinics in the evening for parents who prefer to accompany their child.