Assessing Immunization Interventions in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

Abstract

Background Vaccination promotion strategies are recommended in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) settings for eligible children at risk for under-immunization due to their low-income status. Purpose To determine coverage levels of WIC and non-WIC participants and assess effectiveness of immunization intervention strategies. Methods The 2007–2011 National Immunization Surveys were used to analyze vaccination histories and WIC participation among children aged 24–35 months. Grantee data on immunization activities in WIC settings were collected from the 2010 WIC Linkage Annual Report Survey. Coverage by WIC eligibility and participation status and grantee-specific coverage by intervention strategy were determined at 24 months for select antigens. Data were collected 2007–2011 and analyzed in 2013. Results Of 13,183 age-eligible children, 5,699 (61%, weighted) had participated in WIC, of which 3,404 (62%, weighted) were current participants. In 2011, differences in four or more doses of the diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine by WIC participation status were observed: 86% (ineligible); 84% (current); 77% (previous); and 69% (never-eligible). Children in WIC exposed to an immunization intervention strategy had higher coverage levels than WIC-eligible children who never participated, with differences as great as 15% (DTaP). Conclusions Children who never participated in WIC, but were eligible, had the lowest vaccination coverage. Current WIC participants had vaccination coverage comparable to more affluent children, and higher coverage than previous WIC participants.

Food Insecurity and Health: Practices and Policies to Address Food Insecurity among Children

“…48 Access to SNAP in utero and in early childhood also reduces the incidence of metabolic syndrome in adulthood and, for women, increases economic self-sufficiency and reports of being in good health in adulthood. 50 Prenatal or early childhood participation in WIC is associated with improved dietary intake and quality, 51,52 weight outcomes, 53 immunization rates, 54,55 cognitive development and school performance, 56 and birth outcomes (including a lower risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and perinatal death). 57,58 WIC is cost-saving, too, investing $1 in prenatal WIC services saves about $2.48 in medical, educational, and productivity costs over a newborn's lifetime by preventing preterm birth, based on simulations of WIC participation in California.…”

Caregiver Perspectives on Underutilization of WIC: A Qualitative Study

“…4,5 Suboptimal retention and redemption patterns reveal that many participants face barriers to full participation. 4,5 Underutilization of WIC 3 is a pediatric health concern, given the well-documented benefits of WIC for nutrition, 6,7 health, 8 cognition, 9 and access to care [10][11][12][13] during an important developmental period. 14,15 An urgent need exists to identify opportunities to better facilitate participation.…”

Understanding the factors influencing low-income caregivers’ perceived value of a federal nutrition programme, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

“…In the USA, WIC is a central component of the federal food and nutrition safety net. Over 20 years of research has demonstrated the positive impact of WIC on nutrient adequacy, health outcomes, and healthy growth and development among participating women and children (3)(4)(5)(6)(7) . Nevertheless, participation in the programme has continued to decline and retention of child participants is especially concerning (8) .…”