BACKGROUND:
As currently structured, Immunization Program (IP) Grantees' childcare coverage reports do not provide enough information to allow measurement of progress toward the Healthy People 2010 Objectives. In 2004, the National Immunization Program declined to publish childcare coverage data in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report because much of the data were missing or of very questionable accuracy. Issues about data quality in IP Grantee reports involve inconsistencies in data collection and data reporting in areas such as age, facility inclusion criteria, vaccines monitored, and methods of monitoring.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the study was to determine state immunization laws and the documentation process used by the preschool facilities and grantees to collect the information on assessment activities.

METHOD:
An internet based survey was used to collect information on types of preschool programs assessment activities of individual grantees. State daycare reports were collected on 50 states and the District of Columbia.

RESULT:
Inconsistencies where found in the ages included in daycare reports. Some states include all ages, or only children 2 to 6 years old, or finally children from 0 to 4 years old.
Most states report on licensed daycare facilities (as opposed to “registered”) only.
Most states do not include “family” daycare programs. Some states do not include daycare programs affiliated with religious organizations. The immunization status of the child is required using information collected on a standardized form from a health care professional by 73% of the grantees.

CONCLUSION:
There is concern about the reliability of the data used in daycare assessments by the grantees.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To understand the process by which the National Immunization Program collects and assesses daycare data from grantees and to discuss further areas of improvement.