A national grant program from the American College Health Foundation and the American Society for Emergency Contraception is helping colleges install wellness vending machines offering over-the-counter medication, hygiene essentials, and more.

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- By the time move-in day was over, a new kind of campus resource was becoming hard to miss: wellness vending machines stocked with over-the-counter medications, menstrual products, hygiene supplies, and contraception, putting everyday health essentials within easy reach, no appointment or trip across town required. For many families, the wellness vending machine answered one of their most stressful "what if" questions: how would their students get essential health supplies quickly if they needed them?

• What if they get the flu and don't have a thermometer to take their temperature?
• What if they wake up with hives and an itchy throat but don't have an antihistamine?
• What if a condom breaks and they don't have emergency contraception?

Most families don't have the resources to send their students to college with over-the-counter medicine and supplies for every possible situation. But wellness vending machines offering over-the-counter medicines - which are legal in every state - can help fill those gaps.

It's not just students who live on campus who can benefit from a wellness vending machine. Commuter students or those taking night classes also have time-sensitive needs - like a headache that makes it difficult to concentrate or stay in class. The need is especially great at community colleges, which are less likely to have a student health services or bookstore. With a wellness vending machine nearby, all students can get what they need to stay focused on their academics.

As a result, wellness vending machines are becoming more common on campuses around the country. The number of campuses hosting vending machines that include emergency contraception in addition to other health products has grown ten-fold since 2020 (from 16 to 160+). With more than 4,000 colleges across the United States, critical access gaps remain.

"Students who have access to contraception are more likely to complete their degree, and have better health outcomes," according to ASEC Executive Director Kelly Cleland. "We're committed to ensuring that all students, whether they're at a big state flagship university or a small rural community college, have the same opportunity to earn their degree on their chosen timeline and plan for their future."

Expanding Access to Wellness Vending Machines

A national grant program is helping to bring more wellness vending machines to campus. The American College Health Foundation (ACHF) and American Society for Emergency Contraception (ASEC) launched the Community College Vending Machine (CCVM) Grant Program, funding eight community colleges, one public health department, and three community organizations to install wellness vending machines with over-the-counter contraception on or near campus.

"We are very excited about the Community College Vending Machine Grant Program," said Michael Huey, MD, Chair of the ACHF Board of Directors. "Programs like CCVM help empower college students to take an active role in managing their health and well-being by providing convenient access to essential health products when they need them. We are grateful to ASEC for partnering with the Foundation to make this important program possible."

A new grant cycle is expected to be announced in early 2027. Sign up for information here.

Ways to Support College Students

ASEC and ACHF encourage everyone to get involved in meeting students' basic health needs.

Parents and families can ask their students if there is a wellness vending machine on their campus and if so, where it's located. If not, reach out to the Parent and Family Office to advocate for one. Explain why it would help your student specifically. Check out this email template for families. You can also support ASEC's work to expand campus access to vending machines.

Students can advocate for a wellness vending machine, offer to help raise funds, or volunteer to help with restocking. Reach out to health and wellness or student affairs staff to find out who can help get a program started on campus. Students can also connect with their peers at other colleges doing this work at www.ec4ec.org.

Higher education administrators, staff, and faculty can find out more about starting a wellness vending machine program.

About ASEC

The American Society for Emergency Contraception works so that everyone has access to affordable emergency contraception without barriers or stigma, including through its Emergency Contraception for Every Campus (EC4EC) campaign. Learn more at americansocietyforec.org and ec4ec.org.

About ACHF

The American College Health Foundation funds sustainable college health initiatives in partnership with the American College Health Association (ACHA), the leading organization for college health since 1920. Learn more at www.acha.org.

Media Contact: To learn more about the Community College Vending Machine Grant Program or EC, hello@americansocietyforec.org

Media Contact

Claudia Trevor-Wright, American Society for Emergency Contraception, 1 908-291-2564, claudia@americansocietyforec.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/college-is-in-session-and-vending-machines-are-filling-gaps-in-student-healthcare-access-302888821.html

SOURCE American Society for Emergency Contraception