BACKGROUND:
The AAFP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a cooperative agreement for the project "Using Private Provider Partnerships to Strengthen the Immunization Message." This three year project focuses on strengthening immunization messages and awareness to family physicians. As part of the cooperative agreement, the AAFP is conducting a survey of a sample of its members to determine where family physicians get their immunization information as well as what practices are used to increase immunization rates in the office setting.

OBJECTIVE:
The survey will help the AAFP more effectively communicate immunization information to family physicians.

METHOD:
Data was collected from surveying a sample of 5,000 family physicians to determine where family physicians obtain their immunization information and what immunization practices are used in the office setting.

RESULT:
The survey period is the Fall of 2004 with preliminary data analysis in Janaury 2005. Prelinimary data will be presented along with the challenges of conducting a survey during an influenza vaccine shortage.

CONCLUSION:
Conclusions will be made once prelimary analysis is conducted.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Findings regarding immunization sources used by family physicians.
2. Challenges of conducting an immunization survey in a period of influenza vaccine shortages.