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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pennsylvania School Nurse Management of Student Immunization Requirements

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Title: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pennsylvania School Nurse Management of Student Immunization Requirements
Language: English
Authors: Alicia M. Hoke, Erika VanDyke, Elle Mellott, Janine Strick, Deepa L. Sekhar
Source: Journal of School Nursing. 2026 42(2):181-186.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 6
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: UL1TR002014
UL1TR00045
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Kindergarten
Primary Education
Grade 7
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Grade 12
High Schools
Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: School Nurses, Role, Immunization Programs, COVID-19, Pandemics, Kindergarten, Grade 7, Grade 12, Clinics, Access to Health Care, Elementary Secondary Education, Compliance (Legal)
Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania
DOI: 10.1177/10598405241280413
ISSN: 1059-8405
1546-8364
Abstract: School nurses play a significant role in the coordination of school-entry immunization requirements across the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the school landscape and introduced additional responsibilities to a school nurse's workload. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with n = 110 Pennsylvania school nurses to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-entry immunization compliance management. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated increased difficulty obtaining school-entry immunization data (n = 52) and reduced school-level enforcement of immunization compliance (n = 30). We also observed increases in the percentage of students enrolled with an immunization exemption in Kindergarten, 7th, and 12th grades between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. However, few respondents (15%) offered school-located immunization clinics (SLIC) for school-entry-required immunizations. While the benefits of SLICs are documented, the capacity required to execute recommended actions may be limited among school nurses--particularly post-COVID-19 pandemic. School nurses may need additional support to address these gaps.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500075
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pennsylvania School Nurse Management of Student Immunization Requirements
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alicia+M%2E+Hoke%22">Alicia M. Hoke</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Erika+VanDyke%22">Erika VanDyke</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elle+Mellott%22">Elle Mellott</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Janine+Strick%22">Janine Strick</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deepa+L%2E+Sekhar%22">Deepa L. Sekhar</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+School+Nursing%22"><i>Journal of School Nursing</i></searchLink>. 2026 42(2):181-186.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 6
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (DHHS/NIH)
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+12%22">Grade 12</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Nurses%22">School Nurses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Role%22">Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Immunization+Programs%22">Immunization Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+12%22">Grade 12</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clinics%22">Clinics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Health+Care%22">Access to Health Care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Compliance+%28Legal%29%22">Compliance (Legal)</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pennsylvania%22">Pennsylvania</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/10598405241280413
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  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1059-8405<br />1546-8364
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: School nurses play a significant role in the coordination of school-entry immunization requirements across the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the school landscape and introduced additional responsibilities to a school nurse's workload. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with n = 110 Pennsylvania school nurses to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-entry immunization compliance management. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated increased difficulty obtaining school-entry immunization data (n = 52) and reduced school-level enforcement of immunization compliance (n = 30). We also observed increases in the percentage of students enrolled with an immunization exemption in Kindergarten, 7th, and 12th grades between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. However, few respondents (15%) offered school-located immunization clinics (SLIC) for school-entry-required immunizations. While the benefits of SLICs are documented, the capacity required to execute recommended actions may be limited among school nurses--particularly post-COVID-19 pandemic. School nurses may need additional support to address these gaps.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1500075
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1500075
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        Value: 10.1177/10598405241280413
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 6
        StartPage: 181
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Nurses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Immunization Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
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      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: Kindergarten
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 12
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      – SubjectFull: Clinics
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      – SubjectFull: Access to Health Care
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
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      – SubjectFull: Compliance (Legal)
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      – SubjectFull: Pennsylvania
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      – TitleFull: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pennsylvania School Nurse Management of Student Immunization Requirements
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