BACKGROUND:
In 2001, a statewide WIC/Immunization Workgroup developed a strategic plan of linkage activities, which included the recommendation of the WIC/Immunization Record Round-Up Project to the State Immunization and WIC Programs. This project aligned with the CHILD Profile Immunization Registry coming under State Department of Health administration and the goal to populate the registry with historical information.

OBJECTIVE:
The project’s main goals were to populate the CHILD Profile Immunization Registry and to increase the percentage of children 19-35 months of age complete for 4:3:1:3:3. The secondary goals were registry promotion, increased awareness about immunizations and enhanced partnerships.

METHOD:
After a pilot project in May 2002 to fine-tune the project guidelines, WIC agencies in twelve counties were selected for the 2002 Project. In 2003, 21 agencies in fifteen counties were chosen. Local agencies were selected from counties with the lowest percentage of children with complete histories. To enhance Immunization Program’s partnership with tribal clinics, two tribal WIC agencies participated in 2003. The 2004 Project, possibly the final one, will be implemented in the spring.

RESULT:
In 2002, over 11,000 records were entered. 84% of these records contained information that was not in the registry. The average number of events entered per record was 8-12. The results from 2003 will be available in late January.

CONCLUSION:
The project has demonstrated to be a positive avenue for cross-program collaboration with the common goal of populating the immunization registry. WIC staff have a better understanding of immunizations and the registry as a screening tool. WIC caregivers expressed gratitude for a confidential and secure place to house their children’s immunization information. The percentage of complete immunization histories in the registry is growing. Changing trends in data collection are validating the time parameters for this project.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Describe three benefits of the WIC/Immunization Record Round-Up Project.