Statewide pandemic influenza vaccination reminders for children with chronic conditions.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Kevin J. Dombkowski, Anne E. Cowan, Shiming Dong, and Sarah J. Clark are with the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, Division of General Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Rachel C. Potter is with the Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing. Maureen Kolasa is with the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Kevin J
KJ
Dombkowski
Anne E
AE
Cowan
Rachel C
RC
Potter
Shiming
S
Dong
Maureen
M
Kolasa
Sarah J
SJ
Clark
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D007252:Influenza Vaccines