Reducing Geographic, Racial, and Ethnic Disparities in Childhood Immunization Rates by Using Reminder/Recall Interventions in Urban Primary Care Practices

Abstract

A community-wide intervention of patient RRO raised childhood immunization rates in the inner city of Rochester and was associated with marked reductions in disparities in immunization rates between inner-city and suburban children and among racial and ethnic minority populations. By targeting a relatively manageable number of primary care practices that serve city children and using an effective strategy to increase immunization rates in each practice, it is possible to eliminate disparities in immunizations for vulnerable children.