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Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Evidence Tools
MCHbest. Childhood Vaccination with MMR, Flu, and HPV.

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Strategy. Mobile Vaccination Clinics

Approach. Establish mobile vaccination clinics to increase childhood vaccination rates.

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Overview. Establishing mobile vaccination clinics offers a convenient solution to increase childhood vaccination rates, particularly for families facing transportation challenges, limited childcare options, or inflexible work schedules.[1] Key components of mobile vaccination clinics include identifying communities with low immunization rates, partnering with trusted local organizations like schools or faith-based groups to host clinics in familiar settings, and ensuring the clinics are staffed with qualified healthcare professionals who can effectively address parental concerns.[1] Examples of successful public health programs utilizing mobile clinics include initiatives in Los Angeles partnering with community centers to reach hesitant families and programs in remote Alaskan villages collaborating with tribal health organizations to offer convenient on-site vaccinations.[1, 2] Peer-reviewed research supports the effectiveness of mobile clinics.[1,2,3] Studies have shown that mobile clinics can significantly improve access and completion of childhood vaccination schedules, especially in geographically isolated or transportation-limited communities, leading to higher overall vaccination rates.[3]

Evidence. Moderate Evidence. Strategies with this rating are likely to work...

Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.

Potential Data Sources. Data to support this strategy can be accessed through:

  • Family survey data from mobile clinics (qual and quant data)
  • Pre-registration and appointment numbers
  • Epidemiology data from public health departments/epi reporting systems

Outcome Components. This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes (Read more about these categories):

  • Access to/Receipt of Care. This strategy increases the ability for individuals to obtain healthcare services when needed, including preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.
  • Utilization. This strategy improves the extent to which individuals and communities use available healthcare services.
  • Health and Health Behaviors/Behavior Change. This strategy improves individuals' physical and mental health and their adoption of healthy behaviors (e.g., healthy eating, physical activity).

Detailed Outcomes. For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy, access the peer-reviewed evidence and read the Intervention Results for each study.

Intervention Type. Outreach (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the Public Health Intervention Wheel).

Intervention Level. Community-Focused

Examples from the Field. There are currently no ESMs that use this strategy. Search similar intervention components in the ESM database.

Sample ESMs. Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework (see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).

Quadrant 1:
Measuring Quantity of Effort (“What/how much did we do?”)

  • Number of mobile vaccination clinics established to serve communities with low childhood immunization rates. (Measures availability and reach of vaccination services from the mobile clinic)
  • Number of community sites and locations visited by the mobile clinics to provide convenient access to vaccinations. (Measures level geographic coverage and usability)

Quadrant 2:
Measuring Quality of Effort (“How well did we do it?”)

  • Percent of mobile clinic sessions that offer the full range of age-appropriate vaccines according to state immunization requirements. (Measures level of service delivery comprehensiveness)
  • Percent of children screened for vaccination status and referred to the mobile clinic by community partners and schools. (Measures tailored outreach effectiveness)

Quadrant 3:
Measuring Quantity of Effect (“Is anyone better off?”)

  • Number of parents who report high confidence in the safety and quality of the vaccination services received at the mobile clinics. (Measures family trust in and assurance with mobile vaccination clinic)
  • Number of innovative strategies employed by the mobile clinics to increase efficiency, such as online pre-registration and express vaccination lanes that result in improved QI indicators. (Measures breadth of process improvement efforts)
  • Number of communities that achieve and maintain high childhood vaccination rates and low vaccine-preventable disease burden through the mobile clinics. (Measures population health impact)
  • Number of healthcare visits and costs averted as a result of increased immunization coverage and preventive care through the mobile clinics. (Measures health system and economic impact)

Quadrant 4:
Measuring Quality of Effect (“How are they better off?”)

  • Percent of parents who report high confidence in the safety and quality of the vaccination services received at the mobile clinics. (Measures family trust in and assurance with mobile vaccination clinic)
  • Percent of innovative strategies employed by the mobile clinics to increase efficiency, such as online pre-registration and express vaccination lanes that result in improved QI indicators. (Measures breadth of process improvement efforts)
  • Percent of communities that achieve and maintain high childhood vaccination rates and low vaccine-preventable disease burden through the mobile clinics. (Measures population health impact)
  • Percent of healthcare visits and costs averted as a result of increased immunization coverage and preventive care through the mobile clinics. (Measures health system and economic impact)

Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies:

  1. Move from measuring quantity to quality.
  2. Move from measuring effort to effect.
  3. Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists.
  4. The most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.

Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.

References

[1] “Mobile Vaccination Resources.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Aug. 2021, archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/vaccines/covid-19/planning/mobile.html.

[2] “Division of Public Health.” Alaska Department of Health, health.alaska.gov/dph/Pages/default.aspx.

[3] Ventola, C. L. (2016). Immunization in the United States: recommendations, challenges, and measures to improve compliance: part 1: childhood vaccinations. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 41(7), 426.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U02MC31613, MCH Advanced Education Policy, $3.5 M. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.