Immunization registry progress--United States, 2002

Immunization registries are confidential, population-based, computerized information systems that collect vaccination data about all children within a geographic area. By providing complete and accurate information on which to base vaccination decisions, registries are key tools to increase and sustain high vaccination coverage. Registries consolidate vaccination records of children from multiple health-care providers, identify children who are due or late for vaccinations, generate reminder and recall notices to ensure that children are vaccinated appropriately, and identify provider sites and geographic areas with low vaccination coverage. One of the national health objectives for 2010 is to increase to 95% the proportion of children aged <6 years who participate in fully operational, population-based immunization registries (objective 14.26). This report summarizes data from the calendar year 2001 Immunization Registry Annual Report (CY 2001 IRAR), a survey of registry activity among immunization programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) that receive grant funding under Public Health Service Act 317b. Although these data indicate that approximately half of U.S. children aged <6 years are participating in a registry, achieving the national health objective will require increased immunization provider participation.