Collaborative effort sends immunization rates
in Central Wisconsin up to 93 percent

A collaboration of immunization providers in central Wisconsin has had great success in raising immunization rates of children ages 0-2 years old in Wood County from 67% to 93% in 13 months. The collaboration among the Regional Early Childhood Immunization Network (RECIN), Marshfield Clinic, the Wood County Health Department and other medical providers in Wood County began with intervention efforts in December of 1999 to outreach to the households of children who were behind in their immunizations. Every month, either reminder letters were sent out or phone calls were made to parents of children who were behind on their immunizations. The increase in immunization rates was based on an assessment of all residents in Wood County in this age group, regardless of where they receive immunization care. Their immunization status using the 4:3:1:3:3 recommendations was assessed.

RECIN, an immunization registry created by Marshfield Clinic, includes a network of public and private providers that share immunization information on patients. RECIN is a live, real-time immunization registry that is accessed over the Internet. RECIN is currently deployed in 22 counties in Northern and Central Wisconsin. Reaching the 90 percent level by the end of 2000 was a goal of health departments nationwide. Few areas have been able to substantiate meeting that goal on a population wide basis, especially when assessing an entire population and looking at all vaccines. Wood County exceeded this goal in 2000 by reaching 93 percent, assessing all immunizations for all children ages 0-2 years old in the county. RECIN's collaboration is expanding. In 2000, RECIN launched a school district program, which is helping to save school staff time updating immunization records each fall.

Source: Wendy Garlitz, Marshfield Clinic, Wisconsin, garlitzw@mfldclin.edu.

April 2001 SnapShots Headlines