A multidiciplinary approach is often taken to raise immunization coverage levels in communities. Immunization registries, public and private community coalitions, the Vaccine for Children Program, CASA assessments of immunization health care providers, and educational programs are just a few of the strategies that have been utilized to increase or maintain immunization coverage rates. Yet even with the aforementioned efforts, there are still communities difficult to reach and improve immunization coverage levels. Something as simple as identifying the number of health care providers in these areas, the travel distance to the health care providers, and accessible public transportation are difficult to analyze and quantify.
A Geographic Information System was used to identify areas that are at risk for having low immunization coverage rates and map the medical and transportation assets in those areas. Data from birth certificates, the county-wide electronic immunization registry, kindergarten retrospective survey data, vaccine preventable diseases, 1990 Census data, Internet Yellow Pages, Vaccine for Children Providers, CHDP Providers, and Managed Care Programs were used to create an asset map for areas at risk for low immunization coverage rates.
GIS asset mapping is an effective tool for identifying areas at risk for low immunization rates, determining the resources available in these areas, and providing solutions to improve immunization coverage rates in these areas.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Describe how GIS is used to map immunization resources in a community. 2. Understand how a GIS system will assist in locating areas at risk for low immunization rates. 3. Understand the process of calculating health care provider densities and the average distance traveled by patients to receive immunization services
Keywords: Immunizations, Geographic Information Systems
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.