Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates of High-Risk Inner-City Children Over 2 Intervention Years
Ann Fam Med Zimmerman et al.
4: 534
The Article in Brief
Improving Influenza Vaccination of High-Risk Inner-City Children Over 2 Intervention Years
By Richard K. Zimmerman, MD, and colleagues
Background Rates of influenza (flu) vaccination among children with high-risk conditions, such as asthma, are low. This study set out to determine whether selecting from a menu of specially designed strategies (such as flu vaccines on a walk-in basis or reminder e-mails for clinicians) would help inner-city health centers raise vaccination rates among high-risk children.
What This Study Found Over a 2-year period, a menu of tailored strategies results in a modest rise in flu vaccination rates for high-risk children aged 2 to 17 years. When offered a menu of options, inner-city health centers use a variety of strategies based on their specific needs and their office and patient cultures.
Implications
- In this study, immunization rates were lower in adolescents. Strategies particularly targeted to older children, such as after-school immunization clinics or providing flu vaccination when asthma medications are refilled, may be helpful.
- Immunization rates may be further improved by refining the strategies offered and focusing on the culture of individual medical practices.
