New vaccine clinic for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities opens at Glassrock
By Marianne Russ Sharp
Appointments now available for current UC Davis Health primary care pediatric patients as part of PATH program
(SACRAMENTO)
Getting a vaccination can be a challenging experience for some children, particularly those with neurodevelopmental disabilities like autism, ADHD and fragile X syndrome.
The new clinic is for patients with developmental disabilities or who need sensory accomodation. This patient was successfully vaccinated on the clinic's first day.
A new vaccine clinic at the Glassrock Building aims to help by offering a sensory-friendly environment, longer appointments, and specialized support tailored to each patient. It’s part of PATH (Promoting Accessibility to Healthcare), a UC Davis Health-wide effort to improve care for the needs of neurodivergent patients and their families.
“One positive vaccination experience can make all the difference for a child,” explained Katharine Harlan Owens, program manager for PATH as well as the mother of an autistic child. “Many neurodivergent patients have experienced past medical trauma. Because of adverse experiences in healthcare, they avoid going to see their pediatrician and delay vaccination.”
The clinic opened this week. Its goal is to make vaccinations a more positive experience so that children can be active participants in their own healthcare, especially as they grow.
“As a parent, this vaccination clinic is a dream come true. I know firsthand that so many families need support like this to keep their children in school and safe in the community,” Harlan-Owens shared.
The clinic is currently available to all pediatric patients who have a UC Davis Health Primary Care Physician (PCP). UC Davis Health Specialty Care patients who have a PCP outside of the health system are not eligible.
The clinic in the Glassrock Building is a welcoming, calm environment.
Patients should:
Be a current UC Davis Health primary care pediatric patient.
Be age 2 or older and have a neurodevelopmental disability, need sensory accommodation or be awaiting a diagnosis for a neurodevelopmental disability.
Clinic patients are provided with options like weighted blankets, fidgets and more to help them cope and be more comfortable.
Any child who has a UC Davis Health PCP is eligible to be seen in the PATH Vaccination Clinic. No referral is needed — only active orders in the EMR. Families can schedule an appointment directly by calling 916-734-3112 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m."
Siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities can also get their vaccines at the same appointment.
The clinic will be held weekly through December and monthly after that.
The new clinic will offer a wide array of vaccines, including COVID, flu and most shots that are part of the regular childhood vaccine schedule.
It builds on the success of a COVID-19 and flu shot clinic that has been housed at the MIND Institute for the past few years. Now, the clinic is moving to Glassrock and expanding to include additional vaccines.
The clinic’s approach centers on personalized care. The staff have been trained through PATH and both a nurse and certified child life specialist provide support for every scheduled patient. This includes preparation and an individual assessment of the child’s needs, as well as sensory support such as fidgets, weighted blankets, dimmed lights and other efforts to support children and help them cope.
Certified Child Life Specialist Veronica Tuss of the MIND Institute (center), stands between two patients who received vaccines on the clinic's opening day this week.
Importantly, the child life specialist creates a personalized coping plan for each patient and helps prepare families before the appointment. This includes helping them learn how to advocate for support, promoting positive medical visits in the future.
These strategies were very successful at the MIND Institute vaccine clinic, leading to a 94% vaccination rate for COVID and flu shots. Now those strategies will be used to deliver many more vaccines.
“This gives us the unique opportunity to reach many more neurodivergent children,” Harlan-Owens said. “We can also catch them up with recommended vaccination schedules if they have fallen behind due to anxiety or past medical trauma.”
Harlan-Owens notes that many children who attended the MIND Institute vaccine clinic were later able to be vaccinated in lower-support environments like a pharmacy or school clinic without any issues.
“Building this confidence and independence for our neurodivergent patients is what we are all about,” she said.
