Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to identify differences among school immunization requirements for states and explain efforts undertaken to improve data quality for school immunization coverage and increase information sharing among state programs.


Background:
School immunization requirements were designed as a mechanism to help prevent outbreaks of disease within communities. Each state is responsible for determining immunization requirements for daycare and school entry. These requirements aid in protecting children, teachers, volunteers, visitors in daycare and school facilities, and their contacts.
When new vaccines are developed and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes new recommendations, it is important for every state to re-evaluate and update their school requirements. Each requirement can differ from state to state creating a need to make this information accessible to parents, teachers, and health officials.




Setting:
State immunization programs.


Population:
Children in daycare and school.


Project Description:
In collaboration with federal and state public health officials, a web-based informational site was created containing the most accurate data about state immunization requirements for school entry. This site will be accessible to the public and updated annually. It will serve as a resource to alleviate questions or concerns that may arise from health officials, people that are displaced by natural disasters or other situations, families who relocate to other states, and others that have an interest in school immunization requirements.
A booklet is being produced with immunization requirements for 2005-2006. This publication will be updated and published periodically when significant changes in requirements occur.



Results/Lessons Learned:
School immunization requirements vary from state to state. Health officials and the public benefit from a centralized location of related information, resulting in an improvement in the quality of coverage data and a better understanding of the requirements.