IMPROVING IMMUNIZATION RATES IN TWO YEAR OLD CHILDREN
Rosengart R.,
Brody, M.R., Wahl, D.
Department of
Pediatrics, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and The Center for Medical
Education, Los Angeles, California, USA
Objective: By
age two years, our children will have all of the 15 immunizations
administered according to schedule, as recommended by the American Academy
of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention).
Methods:
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Identify all children under two years of age in our
area.
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Utilize a computerized tracking and recording
system for immunization data.
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Monthly assessment and review of the immunization
data at twenty months of age.
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Identify at every visit an opportunity to address
the immunization status.
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Outreach to children who have fallen behind in the
recommended immunization schedule.
Results: In
1996 prior to the interventions 63% of children were fully immunized by the
second birthday. Between 1997 and 2000, 95% of 7447 two year-olds are fully
immunized. In our practice, omission or administration of immunizations at
the inappropriate age occurred more frequently than noncompliance.
Conclusion: Using
several different techniques, the immunization rates in two year-olds have
significantly increased in our population in a short period of time.