Improving Adolescent Immunization Rates - Pilot Project

Background: Adolescent populations are notoriously underimmunized. This population does not often present for well care, and barring and occasional tetanus due to lacerations, they do not receive age appropriate immunizations. A pilot project to increase age appropriate immunization for Tdap, MCV and HPV was conducted in NC Community Health Centers (Federally Qualified Health Centers- FQHCs).    

Setting: NC FQHCs self selected to participate in the pilot project consisting of a competition to increase adolescent immunization rates for Tdap, MCV and HPV. 

Population: Adolescents aged 11 to 18 who receive care in NC Community Health Centers.

Project Description: A pilot competition among  18 self-selected NC CHCs was conducted during April 2010, NC's Adolescent Immunization Month. Baseline immunization data was run from the North Carolina Immunization Registry (NCIR) in late March 2010. The competition kick off was conducted by webinar that included a training on adolescent immunizations and tools for increase immunization rates.  During April, sites worked to administer the targeted immunizations to their adolesent population. Various tools were made available such as AFIX sessions provided by the NC Immunization Program, recall tools, immunization toolkits, and weekly email contact. On May 1, repeat immunization reports were run from the NCIR.

Results/Lessons Learned: A total of 18 sites participated; 1 was a pediatric practice, all others were primary care/family practice sites. The total adolescent population served by these clinics is 7971, with a clinic population range from 14 to 2,000. . Initial rates were: range for 3 HPV  18% - 38%; range for Tdap 42% - 90%; and the range for MCV 5% - 86%. In the one month competition period, participating sites were able to increase their adolescent immunization rates for Tdap, MCV and HPV by 26% overall