Facilitating school immunization compliance
Creators: name: Strickland, Na'Dya N
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2024

description: Purpose of Project: This project aims to investigate the pivotal role of the school nurse in enhancing immunization compliance amongst students and the benefits derived from the collaborative efforts of the local health departments to maintain high compliance rates. The primary objectives include identifying, tracking, and addressing immunization non-compliance by ensuring adherence to state-mandated requirements within a public primary educational setting. The project also seeks to highlight the significance of information management systems, such as the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) a comprehensive vaccine administration database with shared access across various healthcare entities. MethodologyThe project employs a multifaceted approach, with the school nurse acting as the key facilitator in implementing immunization compliance. The data collection involves health record review and coordination with NJIIS to identify students still in need of mandated vaccinations. Additionally, the project emphasizes the importance of the role the local health department plays in providing primary care services. The health department serves as an accessible hub for students and families, mitigating barriers like lack of health insurance, transportation issues, or inability to obtain an appointment. The collaborative model involves organized communication between the school nurse, parents and guardians, and local health department to create a streamlined process contributing to increased compliance rates. ResultsThe collective efforts between the school nurse and local health departments demonstrate a synergistic approach, significantly enhancing the reach and impact of immunization initiatives. Offering more than just a referral to be vaccinated but the actual information to a place administering vaccines proved to be effective in increasing compliance rates amongst students. Post-intervention, 98.03% of students became compliant by completing all the necessary immunizations identified as missing. The data collection through NJIIS was helping in the identification of immunizations or lack thereof however, there was a trend of inconsistency use and accuracy of the database when compared to health records submitted directly to the school. An apparent trend that a lot of healthcare providers do not participate or update NJIIS, as 39.2% of the students were compliant before the intervention, but the inconsistent utilization of the state immunization registry by healthcare providers has the unintended consequence of creating inconsistencies in immunization records, often giving the appearance of non-compliance among individuals. Implications for PracticeThe findings of this project show the effectiveness of the collaborative model in addressing immunization gaps and fostering a culture of preventative health practices amongst parents and guardians. The organized approach not only contributes to a safer and healthier educational environment but also has broader implications for positive public health outcomes. The project highlights the ongoing need for partnership and communication between school health services and local health departments, emphasizing the shared goal of achieving optimal immunization coverage within school communities. The success of this project suggests its potential applicability in other regions, serving as a valuable framework for enhancing immunization initiatives in educational settings.