With the support of the CDC and the targets set by the Healthy People 2010 goals, support for and uptake of immunization registries has risen dramatically throughout the last decade. Immunization registries are present in all 50 states, six major cities, and three United States territories. These registries have been proven to promote healthier children by
reducing extra immunization, ensuring that children receive up-to-date and proper immunizations, save medical costs by preventing vaccine-preventable diseases, and save providers time and money. The limitations of immunization registries are being worked through, and automating data entry and ensuring communication between different systems will be of paramount importance to continue the momentum. Officials should proactively ensure that legislation is in place to facilitate data sharing between systems, and registry designers should ensure that the systems are adaptable, expandable, and nationally
compatible with protocols developed by the CDC. Parents should be educated and involved with all aspects of registry use, as they can be powerful allies. Finally, steps should be taken to ensure that vaccine registries are seamlessly and cost-effectively integrated with providers’ existing recordkeeping systems to facilitate implementation, increase compliance, ease data entry, and ensure accuracy.
We are well on our way to meeting the Healthy People 2010 goal of having 95% of children less than six years of age enrolled in an immunization registry. With these
registries, we can ensure healthier children, lower provider costs, improve recordkeeping, and advance towards a society free of vaccine preventable disease.
References
American Immunization Registry Association. (2010). AIRA - American Immunization Registry Association. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http://www.immregistries.org/ Anderson, R. M. (1992). The concept of herd immunity and the design of community-based
immunization programmes. Vaccine, 10(13), 928-935.
Anderson, R. M., & May, R. M. (1985). Vaccination and herd immunity to infectious diseases. Nature, 318, 323-329.
Atkinson, W., Wolfe, S., Hamborsky, J., & McIntyre, L. (Eds.). (2009). Epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases (11th ed.). Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation.
Ball, L. K., Ball, R., & Pratt, R. D. (2001). An assessment of thimerosal use in childhood vaccines. Pediatrics, 107, 1147-1154.
Callahan, J. M., Reed, D., Meguid, V., Wojcik, S., & Reed, K. (2004). Utility of an
immunization registry in a pediatric emergency department. Pediatric Emergency Care, 20(5), 297-301.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1999a). Impact of vaccines universally
recommended for children - United States, 1990-1998. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 48(12), 243-248.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1999b). Ten great public health achievements - United States, 1900-1999. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 48(12), 241-243.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). 14: Immunization and infectious diseases. Healthy People 2010 web site.
http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume1/14Immunization.htm#_Toc4 94510239
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010a). About the VAERS program. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http://vaers.hhs.gov/index/about/index
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010b). General questions and answers about adjuvants. Retrieved March 11, 2010, from
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/adjuvants.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010c). Recommendations and guidelines: 2010 child & adolescent immunization schedules for persons aged 0-6 years, 7-18 years, and "catch-up schedule". Retrieved February 5, 2010, from
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010d). Vaccine safety datalink (VSD) project. Retrieved March 11, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Activities/VSD.html Chen, R. T., Davis, R. L., & Sheedy, K. M. (2004). Safety of immunizations. In S. A.
Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein & P. A. Offitt (Eds.), Vaccines (4th ed., pp. 1557-81). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
Chen, W., Landau, S., Sham, P., & Fombonne, E. (2004). No evidence for links between autism, MMR and measles virus. Psychol Med, 34, 543-553.
Clark, H. F., Glass, R. I., & Offit, P. A. (1999). Rotavirus vaccines. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 987-1005). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Demicheli, V., Rivetti, A., Di Pietrantonj, C., Clements, C. J., & Jefferson, T. (2003). Hepatitis B vaccination and multiple sclerosis: Evidence from a systematic review. J Viral Hepat, 10, 343-344.
DeStefano, F., & Vaccine Safety Datalink Research Group. (2001). The Vaccine Safety Datalink Project. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf, 10(5), 403-406.
Duclos, P. (2003). Safety of immunization and adverse events following vaccination against Hepatitis B. Expert Opin Drug Saf, 2, 225.
Edwards, K. M., Decker, M. D., & Mortimer, E. A. (1999). Pertussis vaccine. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 293-344). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
Every Child By Two Foundation. (2010). Every child by two. Retrieved February 5, 2010, from http://www.ecbt.org/index.cfm
Fedson, D. S., Musher, D. M., & Eskola, J. (1999). Pneumococcal vaccine. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 553-607). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Feinstone, S. M., & Gust, I. D. (1999). Hepatitis A vaccine. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 650-671). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Gershon, A., Takahashi, M., & White, C. J. (1999). Varicella vaccine. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 475-507). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Gherardi, R. K., Coquet, M., Cherin, P., & et al. (2001). Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions assess long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide in muscle. Brain,
Glazner, J. E., Beatty, B. L., Pearson, K. A., & et al. (2004). Using an immunization registry: Effect on practice costs and time. Ambul Pediatr, 4, 34-40.
Griffin, M. R., Ray, W. A., Livengood, J. R., & Schaffner, W. (1988). Risk of sudden infant death syndrome after immunization with the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine. New England Journal of Medicine, 319, 618-623.
Hall, A., Kane, M., Roure, C., & Meheus, A. (1999). Multiple sclerosis and Hepatitis B vaccine? Vaccine, 17, 2473.
Hoffman, H. J., Hunter, J. C., Damus, K., Pakter, J., Peterson, D. R., van Belle, G., et al. (1987). Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization and sudden infant death: Results of the national institute of child health and human development cooperative
epidemiological study of sudden infant death syndrome risk factors. Pediatrics, 79, 598- 611.
Honda, H., Shimizu, Y., & Rutter, M. (2005). No effect of MMR withdrawal on the
incidence of autism; a total population study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 46, 572-579. Kempe, A., Steiner, J. F., Renfew, B. L., & et al. (2001). How much does a regional
immunization registry increase documented immunization rates at primary care sites in rural colorado? Ambul Pediatr, 1, 213-216.
Khare, M., Picinino, L., Barker, L. E., & Linkins, R. W. (2006). Assessment of immunization registry databases as supplemental sources of data to improve ascertainment of
vaccination coverage estimates in the national immunization survey. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 160(8), 838.
Kilbourne, E. D., & Arden, N. H. (1999). Inactivated influenza vaccines. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 531-552). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Kolasa, M. S., Chilkatowsky, A. P., Clarke, K. R., & Lutz, J. P. (2006). How complete are immunization registries? the Philadelphia story Ambulatory Pediatrics, 6(1), 21. Last, J. M. (Ed.). (2007). A dictionary of public health (1st ed.). Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Linkins, R. W. (2001). Immunization registries: Progress and challenges in reaching the 2010 national objective. J Public Health Manage Pract, 7, 67-74.
Linkins, R. W., & Feikema, S. M. (1998). Immunization registries: The cornerstone of childhood immunization in the 21st century. Pediatric Annals, 27(6), 349-354.
Linkins, R. W., Salmon, D. A., Omer, S. B., Pan, W. K. Y., Stokley, S., & Halsey, N. A. (2006). Support for immunization registries among parents of vaccinated and unvaccinated school-aged children: A case control study. BioMed Central Public Health, 6, 236.
Mahoney, F. J., & Kane, M. (1999). Hepatitis B vaccine. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 158-183). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
Marshall, H. S., Gold, M. S., Gent, R., & et al. (2006). Ultrasound examination of extensive limb swelling reactions after diphtheria-tetanus-acelluar pertussis or reduced antigen content diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis immunization in pre-school-aged children. Pediatrics, 118, 1501-1509.
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. (2010). Immunization information systems. Retrieved February 5, 2010, from
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (2010a). N.C. immunization branch - hepatitis B programs home. Retrieved March 11, 2010, from
http://www.immunizenc.com/HepatitisB_home.htm
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (2010b). NCIR - N.C. immunization registry. Retrieved February 9, 2010, from
http://www.immunizenc.com/NCIR.htm
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (2010c). North carolina immunization rules. Retrieved February 9, 2010, from
http://www.immunizenc.com/NCRulesandLaws.htm
Offit, P. A., & Hackett, C. J. (2003). Addressing parents' concerns: Do vaccines cause allergic or autoimmune diseases? Pediatrics, 111, 653-659.
Peltola, H., Patja, A., Leinikki, P., Valle, M., Davidkin, I., & Paunio, M. (1998). No evidence for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine associated inflammatory bowel disease or autism in a 14-year prospective study. Lancet, 351, 1327-8.
Pichichero, M. E., Cernichiari, E., Lopreiato, J., & Treanor, J. (2002). Mercury
concentrations and metabolism in infants receiving vaccines containing thiomersal: A descriptive study. Lancet, 360, 1737.
Plotkin, S. A., Murdin, A. D., & Vidor, E. (1999). Inactivated polio vaccine. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 345-363). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Plotkin, S. L., & Plotkin, S. A. (1999). A short history of vaccination. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 1-13). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders
Company.
Rajantie, J., Zeller, B., Treutiger, I., & Rosthoj, S. (2007). Vaccination associated thrombocytopenic purpura in children. Vaccine, 25, 1838-1840.
Rask, K. J., Wells, K. J., Kohler, S. A., Rust, C. T., & Cangialose, C. B. (2000). The cost to providers of participating in an immunization registry. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 19(2), 99-103.
Redd, S. C., Markowitz, L. E., & Katz, S. L. (1999). Measles vaccine. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccine (3rd ed., pp. 222-266). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Saarlas, K. N., Edwards, K., Wild, E., & Richmond, P. (2003). Developing performance measures for immunization registries. J Public Health Manage Pract, 9, 47-57. Samuels, R. C., Appel, L., Reddy, S. I., & Tilson, R. S. (2002). Improving accuracy in a
computerized immunization survey. Ambul Pediatr, 2, 187-192.
Schauer, S. L., Maerz, T. R., Hurie, M. B., Gabor, G. W., Flynn, J. M., & Davis, J. P. (2009). The use of an immunization information system to establish baseline childhood
immunization rates and measure contract objectives. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 15(5), E6.
Scherer, A., & McLean, A. (2002). Mathematical models of vaccination. British Medical Bulletin, 62, 187-199.
Sekaran, N. K., & Edwards, K. M. (2006). Extensive swelling reaction associated with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine. Pediatr Infect Dis J, 25, 374-375.
Smith, P. J., Hoaglin, D. C., Battaglia, M. P., Khare, M., Barker, L. E., & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005). Statistical methodology of the national immunization survey, 1994-2002. Vital Health Stat 2, 2005(138), 67-74.
Souayah, N., Nasar, A., Suri, M. F., & Qureshi, A. I. (2009). Guillain-barré syndrome after vaccination in United States: Data from the centers for disease control and
Prevention/Food and drug administration vaccine adverse event reporting system (1990- 2005). Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease, 11(1), 1.
Stehr-Green, P., Tull, P., Stellfeld, M., Mortenson, P. B., & Simpson, D. (2003). Autism and thimerosal-containing vaccines: Lack of consistent evidence for an association. Am J Prev Med, 25, 101.
Sutter, R. W., Cochi, S. L., & Melnick, J. L. (1999). Live attenuated poliovirus vaccines. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 364-408). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
Taylor, B., Miller, E., Farrington, C. P., & et al. (1999). Autism and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; no epidemiological evidence for a causal association. Lancet, 353, 2026-2069.
Tickner, S., Peman, P. J., & Woodcock, A. (2006). Factors underlying suboptimal childhood immunisation. Vaccine, 24(49-50), 7030.
Triggle, N. (2010). Lancet accepts MMR study 'false'. Retrieved February 5, 2010, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8493753.stm
United States Food and Drug Administration. (2010).Thimerosal in vaccines. Retrieved March 11, 2010, from
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/ucm096 228.htm
Urquhart, G., Rasulnia, B., & Kelly, J. (2008). Immunization information systems progress - United States, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 57(11), 289-291.
Vennermann, M. M., Butterfass-Bahloul, T., Jorch, G., & et al. (2007). Sudden infant death syndrome: No increased risk after immunisation. Vaccine, 25, 336-340.
Walker, A. M., Jick, H., Perera, D. R., & et al. (1987). Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization and sudden infant death syndrome. Am J Public Health, 77, 945-51.
Ward, J. I., & Zangwill, K. M. (1999). Haemophilus influenzae vaccines. In S. A. Plotkin, & W. A. Orenstein (Eds.), Vaccines (3rd ed., pp. 183-221). Philadelphia, PA: W.B.
Saunders Company.
Zhou, W., Pool, V., Iskander, J. K., & et al. (2003). Surveillance for safety after
immunization: Vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) - United States, 1991- 2001. MMWR Surveill Summ, 52(1), 1-24.