The founders of Vote & Vax recognized the opportunity to safely and conveniently provide flu vaccinations on Election Day. Initially a collaboration between The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and SPARC (Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration), Vote & Vax works with local public health providers to assist them in launching vaccination clinics at or near polling places across the country.

Vote & Vax is committed to protecting Americans from the flu and to keeping our nation healthy. Since its first multi-state program in 2004, Vote & Vax has helped provide thousands of influenza vaccinations to at-risk Americans. Vote & Vax significantly expanded its efforts in 2008, ultimately delivering 21,434 influenza vaccinations at 331 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia this past November. Of those vaccinated through the project, almost half (47.7%) were "new" recipients, meaning they had either not received a flu shot in the preceding year or would not have otherwise been vaccinated.

After a successful effort in 2008, Vote & Vax is looking toward to the future. Local or county elections are a great opportunity for providers to participate in Vote & Vax , and in 2012, they can expect individual attention and technical assistance from the public health experts who have developed this initiative. We are an innovative program that addresses a community problem with a community solution and we look forward to expanding the Vote & Vax provider network in coming election seasons.