Are patient-held vaccination records associated with improved vaccination coverage rates?
OBJECTIVE
The goal was to determine whether patient-held vaccination records improve vaccination rates.


METHODS
The public-use files of the 2004-2006 National Immunization Survey, a national, validated survey of households with children 19 to 35 months of age, were used. The main outcome was up-to-date (UTD) vaccination status (4 diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis/diphtheria-tetanus vaccine, 3 poliovirus vaccine, 1 measles vaccine, 3 Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine, and 3 hepatitis B vaccine doses), and the main predictor was the use of a vaccination record. Control variables were race/ethnicity, maternal education, poverty status, language, number of children in the home, state of residence, and number of health care providers.


RESULTS
Overall, 80.8% of children were UTD, and 40.8% of children had vaccination records. Children with vaccination records were more likely to be UTD (83.9% vs 78.6%; P < .0001). The largest effects associated with vaccination records were seen for children with multiple providers, comparing with and without a vaccination record (82.8% vs 71.9%; P < .0001), those with low maternal education, (81.6% vs 72.9%; P < .0001), and those with > or =4 children in the household, (76% vs 69.6%; P < .004). Logistic regression predicting UTD status and controlling for race/ethnicity, maternal education, poverty level, language, number of children in the home, and number of vaccine providers revealed the vaccination record to be associated with a 62% increase in the odds of UTD status (odds ratio: 1.62 [95% confidence interval: 1.49-1.77]).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of patient-held vaccination records is an easily implemented strategy that is associated with increased immunization rates. A greater effect was seen in groups at risk for underimmunization. Methods to incorporate and to ensure effective use of these records should be implemented.
Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pediatrics, 135 Rutledge Ave, PO Box 250561, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. mcellig@musc.edu
James T
JT
McElligott
Paul M
PM
Darden
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*