Statewide pandemic influenza vaccination reminders for children with chronic conditions

K.J. Dombkowski, A.E. Cowan, R.C. Potter, S. Dong, M. Kolasa and S.J. Clark

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 1, e39-e44

Abstract: Objectives: We evaluated the use of a statewide immunization information system (IIS) to target influenza vaccine reminders to high-risk children during a pandemic. Methods: We used Michigan's IIS to identify high-risk children (i.e., those with ≥ 1 chronic condition) aged 6 months to 18 years with no record of pH1N1 vaccination among children currently or previously enrolled in Medicaid (n=202 133). Reminders were mailed on December 7, 2009. We retrospectively assessed children's eligibility for evaluation and compared influenza vaccination rates across 3 groups on the basis of their high-risk and reminder status. Results: Of the children sent reminders, 53 516 were ineligible. Of the remaining 148 617 children, vaccination rates were higher among the 142 383 high-risk children receiving reminders than among the 6234 high-risk children with undeliverable reminders and the 142 383 control group children without chronic conditions who were not sent reminders. Conclusions: Midseason reminders to parents of unvaccinated high-risk children with current or past Medicaid enrollment were associated with increased pH1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccination rates. Future initiatives should consider strategies to expand targeting of high-risk groups and improve IIS reporting during pandemic events.

Keywords: influenza vaccine; influenza vaccine, adolescent; article; child; chronic disease; feasibility study; female; human; infant; influenza; Influenza virus A H1N1; male; pandemic; preschool child; preventive health service; reminder system; retrospective study; United States; virology; Influenza, Human; Pandemics; United States, Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Immunization Programs; Infant; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human; Male; Michigan; Pandemics; Reminder Systems; Retrospective Studies, Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Immunization Programs; Infant; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human; Male; Michigan; Pandemics; Reminder Systems; Retrospective Studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301662_3

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301662

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