VFC Provider-Based Reminder/Recall through an Immunization Information System to Increase Immunization Rates in a Sentinel Site Childhood Population

Background:

Southeast Washington is a medically underserved area of higher than average poverty and is the District's Sentinel Site area. Approximately 25% of its households live at or below the poverty line; the population is 90% black, 8% white, and 2% other/mixed; 2% Hispanic ethnicity. Approximately 11,596 0-6-year-olds live in Southeast Washington; 11,126 (96%) have a record in the DC Immunization Registry. As of October 30, 2005, Southeast Washington 19-35-month-old children had immunization levels of 61.45% for 4:3:1:3:3:1 based on records in the Registry; 4 PCV7 32.10%; 4 DTP 71.35%; 3 HepB 77.22%.

Setting:

110 providers, throughout DC, giving healthcare to children 0-6 years of age living in Southeast Washington with immunization records in the DC Immunization Registry.

Projection Description:

Through VFC CASA/AFIX, contact was made with providers to identify low immunization levels and stress the importance of recalling children particularly for delayed pneumococcal vaccinations. Each month reminder/recall client lists and reminder postcards were distributed to all providers for children 0-6-years last vaccinated in their practices. Immunization levels were monitored monthly for the children using the Immunization Registry and as part of the CDC Sentinel Site project.

Lessons Learned:

Provider-based reminder and recall efforts can increase immunization rates in a highly mobile, high-poverty population. Immunization Information Systems can facilitate reminder and recall efforts for Providers by consolidating immunization records from multiple providers, identifying immunization required by automated forecasting, and automatically generating reminder/recall lists for providers.