Reaching out to eliminate disparities in childhood immunization coverage in South Los Angeles: Tracking results

The Immunize LA Kids Coalition was formed in 1999 under the CDC's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Initiative (REACH 2010). It is administered by South Los Angeles Health Projects, a community-based unit of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The Coalition links public and private agencies, providers, and the community to implement strategies to improve immunization up-to-date rates and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities among Latino and African American children in South Los Angeles. Evidence-based interventions include tracking and follow-up with under-immunized children, community outreach and education, media, and improving provider practices. Coalition workgroups and the African American Task Force refine interventions and ensure cultural relevance. Interventions increase community demand for immunizations; and link families with a medical home, health insurance, and low-cost providers. Immunization up-to-date rates are monitored utilizing a tracking system which contains records for over 200,000 children. Demographics and immunization dates are documented at children's WIC visits. Up-to-date rates for 24-month olds (4:3:1:3:3 series) improved from in 71% in 1999 to 82% in 2005. However, as of 2005, only 73% of African American versus 85% of Latino 24-month olds were up-to-date with recommended immunizations. While improvements in up-to-date rates are impressive, racial and ethnic disparities in immunization coverage remain: a full 27% of African American children, and 15% of Latino children remain vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. Continued efforts to address and monitor racial and ethnic disparities in health are essential.