Healthy People 2010 includes a goal related to the development and implementation of immunization registries - confidential, population-based, computerized systems that contain information about immunizations and children. Immunization registries can consolidate immunization records for children from multiple providers, provide an immunization needs assessment for each child, generate reminder and recall immunization notices for children, produce official immunization records, and provide practice-specific and community-based immunization coverage assessment.
Progress in immunization registry development was self-reported in April 1999 from the National Immunization Program's (NIP) 64 immunization grantees (50 states, DC, 5 cities, 8 territories). Of the 64 grantees, 43 (67%) reported implementing immunization registries, 16 (25%) reported planning or pilot-testing registries, 2 (3%) did not submit a survey, and 3 territories (5%) were known to have no registry activity. Data provided from 38 of the 43 implementing grantees suggested that 7,241,724 (47%) of estimated target children (0-5 years of age) in the grantees' catchment areas had immunization histories included in a registry database in addition to the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. 12 functional standards are considered by NIP to be essential attributes of an immunization registry. 4/43 grantees (9%) reported having met 10 or more of the 12 functional standards, 31 (72%) reported having met 6-9 standards, and 8 (9%) reported having met <6 of the standards. Ongoing monitoring with on-site verification is planned to measure the progress toward achieving this objective. Future challenges for registries involve resolving privacy and confidentiality concerns, and building a sustainable revenue stream for immunization registries.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the current status of development and implementation of immunization registries in the United States, and 2) Identify current impediments to implementation of immunization registries
Keywords: Immunizations, Registry
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.