BACKGROUND:
Finalized requirements for reporting immunization histories of children in childcare group settings went into effect March 27, 2002.

OBJECTIVE:
To increase immunization coverage rates among infants and children 2 months through 5 years of age by assessing, developing and implementing strategic interventions to decrease the incidence of vaccine preventable disease.

METHOD:
A listing of 4,679 childcare settings was obtained from the PA Department of Public Welfare. The DOH distributed a letter to all facilities informing them of the new requirements as well as notifying them of a reporting form to follow in a few months. A data collection form went out to all facilities in January 2004. Department of Health staff conducted follow-up activity on non-reporting facilities. This included phone calls and/or letters. To verify self-reporting, 5% of childcare facilities will be randomly selected for auditing.

RESULT:
The DOH provided the completed data collection forms to a contractor for scanning and data validation. Of the 4,679 settings, 187 were identified as closed or had an undeliverable mailing address leaving 4,492 valid sites. Of the 4,492, 3029 completed and returned the form by the deadline and another 155 returned the form after the deadline for a response rate of 71%. A total of 104,707 immunization summaries were collected. The immunization summaries of 843 children were documented as exempt from required vaccines. These were excluded from further data analysis.

CONCLUSION:
Of the 103,864 non-exempt immunization summaries, 85.4% belonged to children 19 months of age and older for a 83.4% 4:3:1:3:3 coverage rate. This allows PA to have a baseline for these children and regulation is the best way to assess and promote immunizations in this population.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
How to effectively collect and verify immunization status of preschool children.