Binational Immunization Guide: Translating immunization records across the U.S.-Mexican Border

The first Binational Immunization Guide was developed at the request of school personnel in Baja California who wanted to understand what the immunizations recorded on the California Immunization Record meant in terms of Mexican school requirements. The original guide was compiled in 2003 by the Binational Immunization Initiative, a working group of public health and other agencies on both sides of the border. The introduction of new vaccines and new schedules mandated a second edition in 2005 and a third update in 2007.

The newly released 2007 Binational Immunization Guide was developed as a collaborative effort by Public Health immunization programs in both San Diego and Tijuana, Baja California, and with the participation of the California Department of Public Health, the US-Mexico Border Health Commission, and the California Distance Learning Health Network. The process was extremely complex, and decisions on critical clinical issues were often difficult.

Distribution of the Guide was focused on school and clinical staff of organizations serving significant numbers of children who live and receive health care in both nations, and the original printing of 5000 copies was quickly exhausted. Training in the use of the new Guide was offered to school and childcare personnel as well as to Community Health Workers. The enthusiastic response to the updated Guide and the number of requests for copies received from health jurisdictions throughout the country illustrate the need for a strong and continuing effort to develop methods of increasing understanding of healthcare policies and requirements across borders.