Benefits of a Registry: Vaccine Recall – A Case in Point

One of the touted benefits of immunization registries is the ability to easily identify affected individuals in the event of a vaccine recall. This registry feature was recently put to the test. In October 2002, four lots of Menomune®, a quadravalent meningococcal vaccine, were voluntarily recalled by Aventis Pasteur when the company identified a potency failure of one of the components. In addition, the company voluntarily withdrew another 79 lots of Menomune® due to a possible loss of potency. While the company recommended revaccination only for travelers to certain parts of the world, it was important to identify patients who had received the affected lots and offer them revaccination if indicated. Several immunization registries around the country sprung into action and assisted health care providers who had administered this vaccine.

Montana, for example, used their statewide registry to provide local health departments with a list of those individuals who received the recalled lots of Menomune®, thereby facilitating the notification and scheduling of those patients needing revaccination. Washington State's immunization registry, CHILD Profile, produced similar lists for 7 local health departments— within 24 hours, over 2,000 affected patients were identified and address lists sent to the appropriate clinics for follow-up action.

In California, the Central Coast Immunization Registry was able to retrieve a list of 150 clients who received the affected lot numbers at three travel clinics, and the Kern County registry produced a similar list, mailed letters to all affected individuals, and used the system to track individuals who had the option to receive another dose of the vaccine. In southern California, Kaiser Permanente, a long-time proponent of immunization registries, was able to use its registry to identify 139 patients that received the 4 recalled lots and another 6,000-plus individuals who received the other 79 withdrawn lots.

Kidsnet, the Rhode Island registry, sent out general information about the recall in their monthly newsletter to participating providers. In addition, in late October each provider was mailed a list of children in their practice who received meningococcal vaccine during the time period of the recall. Even without lot numbers, the lists were seen as a valuable tool by providers.

Immunization registries provide accurate information on each vaccine a child receives, often including the vaccine manufacturer and lot number, as well as up-to-date demographic information about the child. Thus, when a vaccine recall occurs, rare though it may be, registries can provide a valuable service to providers. They save providers many hours of staff time in research and record review, and ensure the identification of all patients needing notification.

Article by Sherry Riddick

Sources:
James Aspevig, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Sherry Riddick, CHILD Profile, Washington State
Lin Glusac, Ventura County Public Health
Kirt Emery, Kern County Health Department
Steve Tannenbaum, MD, Kaiser Permanente
Kim Salisbury-Keith, Kidsnet, Rhode Island Department of Health
Aventis Pasteur, Vaccine Recall Letter, 10/18/02

January 2003 SnapShots Headlines