BACKGROUND:
When investigating the lower percentages of completely immunized children on the daycare and preschool providers' (DCPPs')immunization reporting forms, the Ottawa County Health Department (OCHD) nurses found discrepancies in the percentages that the DCPPs reported and their actual percentages.

OBJECTIVE:
Ottawa County strives to increase immunization rates. One way to do this is to make DCPPs aware of Michigan's Childhood Immunization Registry (MCIR).

METHOD:
OCHD nurses contact and make site visits to DCPPs. A typical site visit lasts only 20-30 minutes, with a preparation time of about the same. The prep time involves looking up the incompletely immunized children in MCIR. At the visit, information on the devastating effects of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine terminology and immunization requirements are reviewed. MCIR is introduced. The nurse reviews the DCPP's updated immunization records that she obtained from MCIR and provides the daycare and/or preschool center with a "read-only" MCIR application form. The benefits of MCIR are discussed with the provider: less time spent updating chidren's records, less time spent contacting parents about their child's immunization records and that using MCIR can increase the overall immunization rate of their center/school.


RESULT:
OCHD has been able to increase the number of completely immunized children in several DCPPs by more than 20%.

CONCLUSION:
DCPPs are very receptive to these visits from our nurses, as they often feel overwhelmed with the immunization schedule and reporting process. We have found that it helps the DCPP to have a contact person and a friendly face to assiociate with the Health Department. It is a valuable outreach tool to encourage DCPPs to keep their children's immunization records current and increase reporting compliance and percentages.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Accessing and utilizing statewide immunization registries can increase the overall immunization rate within the practice and county.