The impact of the standards for pediatric immunization practices on vaccination coverage levels

C. Pierce, M. Goldstein, K. Suozzi, M. Gallaher, V. Dietz and J. Stevenson
New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Division, District I, Albuquerque, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact on clinic-specific vaccination coverage of implementing the Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices. DESIGN: A nonrandomized intervention trial conducted for 1 year. SETTING: Two public health clinics in Albuquerque, NM: 1 intervention site and 1 control site, each serving 1 of 4 city quadrants. PARTICIPANTS: All children enrolled in the 2 city public health clinics. INTERVENTIONS: Implementation of the Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices. OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment of up-to-date vaccination coverage levels prior to and at the conclusion of the project. The impact on the proportion of children who dropped out of vaccination services after receiving 1 dose by 3 months of age. RESULTS: At the intervention site, up-to-date coverage at 12 months of age rose from 57.5% to 80.4%, while levels at the control site decreased from 42.1% to 41.9%. Before the intervention, 24% of children at the intervention site who received the first dose of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DTP 1) by 3 months of age failed to receive the third dose of DTP (DTP 3) by 12 months of age vs 5% after the intervention. At the control site, the proportion of children who received DTP 1 by 3 months of age, but not DTP 3 by 12 months of age, increased from 39% to 51%. CONCLUSION: Implementation of the Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices in a public health clinic was associated with important increases in vaccination coverage levels and a reduction in the proportion of children who dropped out of vaccination services.

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