ABSTRACT
Little is known about Immunization Information System (IIS) attitudes and experiences using Centralized IIS-based Reminder/Recall (CI-R/R), an effective approach to increasing immunization rates. To describe among IIS managers as it relates to CI-R/R: 1) past experiences and future plans conducting it; 2) attitudes and barriers, 3) IIS capabilities and polices that influence, and 4) factors that differentiate IIS who have and have not conducted CI-R/R. Electronic Surveys were sent to all IIS managers in July 2018 using a member listserve. Fifty-seven of 62 IIS programs contacted (92%) responded. The majority (61%) had ever conducted CI-R/R; 34% reported they were "very likely" to conduct CI-R/R within 6 months. The majority (64%) were in favor of CI-R/R. Barriers included lack of staff (78%), competing demands (76%), and cost (63%). Thirty percent reported receiving a ≥75% of immunization data via real-time electronic interfaces (HL7). Overall, 49% and 24% of jurisdictions had mandatory immunization reporting from private and public health entities for childhood and adult immunizations, respectively. Differences between IIS that ever and never performed CI-R/R, respectively, included: mandatory reporting from private and public entities for children (65% v 27%, p = 0.006), having a legal mandate for CI-R/R (50% v 19%, p = 0.02), less likely to prefer practice-based R/R to CI-R/R (68% v. 91%, p = 0.04), and not reporting having too many competing demands (29% v 67%, p = 0.007). Most IIS have conducted CI-R/R and have positive attitudes towards it. Given it effectiveness and low cost, efforts to sustain it should be considered.
ABSTRACT
Recorded and retrievable information from state immunization information systems (IIS)--previously known as immunization registries--benefits schools, students, families, state and local immunization programs, and the medical home. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and the American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) support state IIS as a way to facilitate immunization compliance, prevent immunization duplications, and sustain high immunization rates. There is much variability from state to state on who can access and/or input data into the IIS. School nurses need to know they can pick up the phone and contact their state IIS, and state IIS personnel need to know that school nurses desire full access to their state registry to view records and record vaccines administered and/or documented by families.
