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Kevin J. Dombkowski, Anne E. Cowan, Rachel C. Potter, Shiming Dong, Maureen Kolasa, and Sarah J. Clark. (2013). Statewide Pandemic Influenza Vaccination Reminders for Children with Chronic Conditions. American Journal of Public Health. e-View Ahead of Print.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301662
Accepted on: Aug 29, 2013
Statewide Pandemic Influenza Vaccination Reminders for Children with Chronic Conditions
Kevin J. Dombkowski, DrPH, MS, Anne E. Cowan, MPH, Rachel C. Potter, DVM, MS, Shiming Dong, MS, Maureen Kolasa, MPH, BSN, and Sarah J. Clark, MPH
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.
Correspondence should be sent to Kevin J. Dombkowski, DrPH, MS, Division of General Pediatrics, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls, Room 6D05, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456 (e-mail: kjd@med.umich.edu). Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking the ?Reprints? link.
Contributors
K. J. Dombkowski led the study conceptualization and design, supervised the data analyses, and contributed substantially to the interpretation of data and the writing and editing of the article. R. C. Potter contributed to the study conceptualization and design, data collection and interpretation, and critical review of the article. A. E. Cowan collaborated on the interpretation of data and the writing and editing of the article. S. Dong conducted data analyses and article review. M. Kolasa collaborated on the study design and critical review of the article drafts. S. J. Clark contributed to study conceptualization and design, drafts of the article, and critical reviews. All authors approved the final version of the article.
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. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 14, 2013: e1?e6. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301662)
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301662
Accepted on: Aug 29, 2013
Statewide Pandemic Influenza Vaccination Reminders for Children with Chronic Conditions
Kevin J. Dombkowski, DrPH, MS, Anne E. Cowan, MPH, Rachel C. Potter, DVM, MS, Shiming Dong, MS, Maureen Kolasa, MPH, BSN, and Sarah J. Clark, MPH
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.
Correspondence should be sent to Kevin J. Dombkowski, DrPH, MS, Division of General Pediatrics, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls, Room 6D05, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456 (e-mail: kjd@med.umich.edu). Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking the ?Reprints? link.
Contributors
K. J. Dombkowski led the study conceptualization and design, supervised the data analyses, and contributed substantially to the interpretation of data and the writing and editing of the article. R. C. Potter contributed to the study conceptualization and design, data collection and interpretation, and critical review of the article. A. E. Cowan collaborated on the interpretation of data and the writing and editing of the article. S. Dong conducted data analyses and article review. M. Kolasa collaborated on the study design and critical review of the article drafts. S. J. Clark contributed to study conceptualization and design, drafts of the article, and critical reviews. All authors approved the final version of the article.
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. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 14, 2013: e1?e6. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301662)
