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Family Medicine Residencies Teach Many Strategies to Boost Immunization Rates
American Family Physician, 08/12/09

Bein B – Located in a state with one of the lowest immunizations rates in the country, the Oregon Health & Science University family medicine residency program in Portland has its work cut out for it. Its 36 physicians–in–training learn strategies that help them talk to parents about immunizations, educate those parents about the need for their children to be vaccinated and devise ways to make immunizations part of each visit. It is essential to put vaccine–preventable diseases in context for parents (Some parents will ask, 'Why should my child get the polio vaccine? I've never seen polio.' They tell them we don't see this disease because we protect each other with the vaccines. We protect the child and everybody else...) Outside of Oregon, other family medicine residencies also are working to boost their immunization rates. In Macon, Ga., a state that generally has high immunization rates, the Mercer University School of Medicine/Medical Center of Central Georgia Family Medicine Residency has more than doubled its compliance rate for the series of 15 childhood immunizations needed to start school from 42 percent in 2004 to 91 percent in 2008. The residency accomplished that goal using a multifaceted approach that included joining the Vaccines for Children program; tapping into the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services, or GRITS, electronic tracking system; and educating parents, physicians, residents and staff.