Inadequate History as a Barrier to Immunization

Validity of Parent-Reported Vaccination Status for Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years: National Immunization Survey-Teen, 2008

“…9,30 Yet, only 21.3% of respondents to our household survey had an immunization 31 The availability of an immunization card among parents participating in validity studies of young children has ranged from 21% to 72% and differs by study setting. 7,9,10,32,33 Few parents carry immunization cards with them when accessing acute or preventive health care for their young children. 7,10,33 As children age into adolescence, they have fewer preventive healthcare visits, and immunizations become less frequent.…”

“…7,9,10,32,33 Few parents carry immunization cards with them when accessing acute or preventive health care for their young children. 7,10,33 As children age into adolescence, they have fewer preventive healthcare visits, and immunizations become less frequent. 34 Also, as participation in immunization information systems (IISs) increases, parents may be less motivated to carry immunization cards and keep them current.…”

“…As seen among younger children, practitioners who receive inaccurate vaccination information may miss opportunities to vaccinate vulnerable adolescents or may even vaccinate when unnecessary. 33 To improve vaccination histories provided by parents in the absence of medical records, parents and adolescents should be encouraged to bring the adolescent's immunization card to all medical encounters. Likewise, vaccination providers should reissue new immunization cards if they are missing.…”

Immunization with Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) Conjugate Vaccine following Discharge from Hospital

“…Other factors contributing to missed opportunities or delayed immunizations in both the primary and secondary health care setting include failure to document immunization history, resistance to changing current practice and over-interpretation of contraindications [1,14,15]. Other factors contributing to missed opportunities or delayed immunizations in both the primary and secondary health care setting include failure to document immunization history, resistance to changing current practice and over-interpretation of contraindications [1,14,15].…”

A Statewide Assessment of Lead Screening Histories of Preschool Children Enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care Program

“…Research has demonstrated the important effect of different methodologies on the measurement of immunization coverage. [23][24][25][26][27] In particular, the limitations of using parental report have been well documented for immunization assessments, and a similar issue probably exists for lead screening. The use of medical record audits in this study overcomes that limitation and may partially explain the higher screening rates.…”