Table 2.

Health Provider-Based Interventions to Improve Vaccination Compliance³,⁴,⁶,⁹,¹²,¹⁴

Provide Parent and Patient Counseling

Be informed about vaccinations. Make strong recommendations. Provide patients with educational materials. Use proven communication strategies. Dispel myths about side effects. Inform parents about research. Give parents time to discuss concerns. Describe infections that vaccines prevent. Describe potential health and financial consequences of vaccine noncompliance. Provide a vaccination record with past and future vaccination visits. Provide patient reminders. Ask vaccine-hesitant parents to sign an exemption form. Inform parents that a missed dose will not require vaccine series to be restarted.

Maximize Opportunities for Vaccination

Administer vaccinations during sick or follow-up visits (postsurgical, posthospitalization). Issue a standing order to allow nurses to administer patient vaccinations.

Offer Combination Vaccines

Simplifies vaccination regimen. Minimizes the number of injections. Reduces need for return vaccination visits. Improves patient adherence.

Improve Accessibility to Vaccinations

Allow same-day appointments or walk-in visits. Make sure the office staff is friendly and supportive. Provide convenient office hours. Limit patient wait time.

Use Electronic Medical Records

Utilize consolidated electronic immunization records. Set electronic alerts for needed vaccinations. Follow up on electronic medical record alerts by contacting patient.