Centralized IIS-based Reminder/Recall to Increase Childhood Influenza Vaccination Rates in New York State

Annual epidemics of influenza A and B cause substantial morbidity and mortality in the US with high rates of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, outpatient visits, and medical costs. Children experience significant morbidity from influenza and also play a key role in instigating and expanding epidemics. In addition, concerns about pandemic influenza heighten the importance of new mechanisms to rapidly inform the population about influenza and direct efforts for rapid vaccine delivery.

Since 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended influenza vaccination for all children >6 months of age. However, vaccination rates remain very low. For the 2012-2013 season, only 56% of children 2-17y were vaccinated. Modeling studies suggest that as many as 19 million cases of influenza could be prevented if child vaccination rates were raised to 70% nationally. The most effective strategy recommended by CDC and the Task Force on Community Preventive Services for improving childhood influenza vaccination rates is reminder/recall (R/R), sent by phone or mail, notifying parents of the need to vaccinate their child. The published literature suggests R/R can improve influenza vaccination rates. However, few practices use R/R; barriers are practice costs, insufficient staff time and expertise, and lack of predictability regarding receipt of vaccine supplies.

Statewide immunization information systems (IISs) now exist in all states to track vaccinations. They have not yet been used for influenza vaccine R/R because of lack of evidence for their effectiveness and a lack of a template for IIS-based reminder/recall. The investigators have united two leading immunization research groups (Denver, CO and Rochester, NY) to assess the impact of centralized IIS-based influenza vaccine reminder/recall, and to evaluate the effect of intensity of recall (1 v. 2. v. 3 reminders) over usual care. The investigators will also develop tools to aid other states in creating efficient IIS reminder/recall systems. The investigators will also develop tools to aid other states in creating efficient IIS reminder/recall systems for seasonal and possible pandemic influenza outbreaks.

The study has four aims:

Aim 1 is to develop the protocols, clinical decision support, and message content for state IISs to conduct reminder/recall for influenza vaccinations.