Childhood immunization rates in low-income minority populations are lower than those of the general US population. The use of reminder/recall has been shown to be effective at increasing childhood immunization rates. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of using a reminder/recall to increase immunization rates for DPT, Polio and MMR among children attending an urban local health department (LHD) clinic. The study participants were children aged 0-36months,who received well child care at the LHD clinic in 1999. The medical records of all (548) children aged 0-36 months who received care were reviewed for the months of January through December using the current ACIP recommendations on childhood immunization. Reminder/recall cards where mailed to all children whose record showed them as not-up-to-date on their immunizations. Families whose cards were returned by the postal office received 1-2 phone calls to remind them of their immunizations. Frequencies and descriptive characteristics of the data were completed using SPSS. The CDC Clinical Assessment Software Application (CASA) was used to assess immunization coverage of the clinic at six-month intervals from June 1999-June 2000. Preliminary results show an increase from 49% in 1999 to 77% in 2000 in immunization rates for children aged 12-23months. In conclusion the use of reminder/recall is effective in increasing immunization rates in LHD clinics and is promising in increasing rates in communities at risk of low immunization coverage.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session participants will be: Equiped with information necssary for the implementation of a reminder-recall protocol. List two benefits of reminder-recalls.
Keywords: Immunizations, Child Health Promotion
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.