Immunization registries are confidential, population-based,
computerized information systems that collect vaccination data about
all children within a geographic area.
[1] By providing
complete and accurate information on which to base vaccination
decisions, registries are key tools to increase and sustain high
vaccination coverage. Registries consolidate vaccination records of
children from multiple health-care providers, identify children who
are due or late for vaccinations, generate reminder and recall notices
to ensure that children are vaccinated appropriately, and identify
provider sites and geographic areas with low vaccination coverage. One
of the national health objectives for 2010 is to increase to 95% the
proportion of children aged <6 years who participate in fully
operational, population-based immunization registries (objective
14.26).
[2] This report summarizes data from the calendar
year 2001 Immunization Registry Annual Report (CY 2001 IRAR), a survey
of registry activity among immunization programs in the 50 states and
the District of Columbia (DC) that receive grant funding under Public
Health Service Act § 317b. Although these data indicate that
approximately half of U.S. children aged <6 years are participating in
a registry, achieving the national health objective will require
increased immunization provider participation.
The CY 2001 IRAR, a
self-administered questionnaire, was distributed to immunization
program managers as part of the annual reporting requirement for
grantees. Information included the percentage of children
participating in a registry that reside in the catchment area and the
progress in implementing the 12 functional standards considered
essential for immunization registry operation.[3] Responses
were received from all 50 states and DC. Of the 51 respondents, 44
(86%) reported operating registries that targeted their entire
catchment areas. The remaining seven (14%) respondents (California,
Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, and New York)
reported operating registries that targeted regions or counties within
their catchment areas (Figure). On the basis of 2001 U.S. census
estimates, approximately 44% of U.S. children aged <6 years had two or
more vaccinations recorded in a grantee registry.
All 51 respondents reported efforts to meet the key elements of the 12
functional standards established for immunization registries (
Table).
A total of seven (14%) registries accept immunization information for
children aged <6 years only, 30 (59%) for all ages in their
registries, and 14 (27%) for persons in their registry aged 17-25
years. A total of 14 (27%) reported using their registries to identify
children eligible for the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC).
Reported by:S Jones, MPH, T Boyd, MS, R Linkins, PhD, Data
Management Div, National Immunization Program, CDC.
