Improving measles vaccination rates in previously vaccinated adults

During the 1988 measles epidemic in Houston, Texas, the Harris County Medical Society made each of its members aware of the Centers for Disease Control recommendations concerning revaccination of persons born between 1957 and 1971. A review of records in a family practice residency clinic found a revaccination rate of only 11% among this population. Previous studies of increasing influenza vaccine administration suggest that enlisting the assistance of office personnel can improve the vaccination rate.

A study was conducted that compared two methods of administering measles vaccine to those born between 1956 and 1967 who had received the killed measles vaccine. Standard ambulatory care (control group) was compared with a proactive system in which front desk personnel and nursing staff identified and vaccinated appropriate patients (study group).

Sixty-one percent of the study group were vaccinated after identification by office personnel, compared with 5% of the control group (P less than .001).

Standard ambulatory care protocols, which rely heavily on the patient's chief complaint to determine the patient's medical needs, interfere with the rate of revaccination. The measles vaccination rate can be significantly improved by a simple modification of practice routine, eg, using support personnel.