B4.02 - Oral Session: Innovative Partnerships to Expand Student Vaccination Access at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn how one campus health center improved student immunization compliance through an innovative partnership with a community pharmacy. Attendees will discover strategies for launching collaborative vaccination clinics that reduce costs, expand access, and strengthen compliance across multiple institutions. This session will share lessons learned from the early implementation of a public–private partnership that brought on-site vaccine drives to all four of the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) campuses. Participants will gain practical insights into building sustainable, equitable partnerships that enhance preventive health services for college students.

Detailed abstract description: College students often face barriers to receiving required and preventive immunizations, including transportation challenges, limited clinic hours, and vaccine costs. Campus health centers are also constrained by staffing, storage, and supply limitations that can hinder large-scale vaccine distribution. In response, the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) launched a partnership with Publix Pharmacy in August 2025 to expand vaccine access and improve student compliance across its four member institutions: Morehouse School of Medicine, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.

The collaboration was facilitated by the clinic’s immunization coordinator, nurse manager, wellness coordinator, infection prevention coordinator, and epidemiologist. Publix pharmacists administered vaccines on campus at no charge to the clinic, reducing cost burden while increasing capacity. The first vaccine drives were held August 13–14 during undergraduate move-in days to target students who could not move into campus housing without medical clearance. Subsequent drives on September 9 and September 24 provided influenza and compliance-related vaccines, including Hepatitis B, Meningococcal B, and Tdap. Additional events are planned through November 2025 to continue improving vaccination rates.

Preliminary outcomes indicate increased compliance, convenience, and satisfaction among students and reduced logistical burden for clinic staff. The model demonstrates the potential for public–private partnerships to strengthen preventive health infrastructure within higher education. Qualitative feedback from students highlighted appreciation for on-site convenience and timely communication, while staff noted improved workflow and interdepartmental coordination. Using the RE-AIM framework, we assessed reach (number of students vaccinated), effectiveness (compliance improvements), adoption (clinic and pharmacy engagement), implementation (logistics), and maintenance (plans for sustainability). Lessons learned from early drives have informed ongoing planning, including optimized event timing, staffing allocation, and communication strategies.

Attendees will gain:

Practical steps for identifying and engaging community pharmacy partners.
Insights on planning on-site vaccination events tied to compliance deadlines.
Strategies for evaluating cost savings and operational efficiency.
Lessons learned in maintaining health equity and student accessibility.

By highlighting early outcomes and sustainability planning, this presentation offers a replicable framework for universities seeking to improve immunization compliance while conserving resources and promoting equitable access to preventive health services.