KEYWORDS:
Community-based organizations, outreach and tracking

BACKGROUND:
Community outreach workers can identify families who have children behind in immunizations, but only if they are knowledgeable about vaccination schedules and immunization card reading.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To assess the accuracy of immunization card reading skills for a network of community outreach workers.

METHOD(S):
In September 2000, a coalition of 14 organizations in Northern Manhattan, New York city, launched a community-based immunization promotion program to raise immunization coverage rates for children <5 years of age in this low-income community. 127 outreach workers with no prior vaccine outreach skills participated in a 5-part training program, including immunization 101, immunization card reading, and tracking techniques. The impact of these training sessions was evaluated using a one-page questionnaire (n=98). Also, we reviewed their assessments of immunization status for children enrolled by October 2001 (n=428). In December 2001, a detailed assessment of immunization card reading accuracy was incorporated into the training session evaluations.

RESULT(S):
At training post-test (n=98) 91% showed adequate knowledge of how and why immunization cards are used by parents and providers. Of the 29 outreach workers completing immunization tracking forms (428 children), 88% had correctly recorded vaccine administration dates. A post-test conducted three months later showed that only 68% (n=17) assessed the immunization status correctly.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
To be effective in promoting immunizations, community outreach workers need to use skills in reading and interpreting of immunization cards. Both skills need to be trained and periodically refreshed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Review strategies to train community outreach workers how to read the immunization cards and determine the child’s immunization status.