Supporting and sustaining centralized reminder/recall for immunizations: Qualitative insights from stakeholders

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Centralized reminder/recall (C-R/R) is an evidence-based strategy to boost vaccination rates.
• Immunization Information Systems (IIS) are population-level databases often managed by state health departments, suitable for initiating C-R/R.
• Factors influencing the initiation and sustainability of C-R/R initiatives remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the characteristics of C-R/R initiatives.
• To identify factors influencing the success of C-R/R strategies.
• To understand barriers and facilitators for implementing C-R/R using IIS.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis methodology.
• Interviews with key stakeholders from IIS, health plans, health systems, pharmaceutical companies, and advocacy organizations.
• Focused analysis on C-R/R activities within IIS.

Main Results:

• Key considerations for C-R/R success include decision-making, stakeholder buy-in, partnerships, funding, data/technology, evaluation, and message content.
• Significant barriers include costs, lack of funding, poor contact data quality, and suboptimal messaging.
• Facilitators include advance provider notification, rigorous post-initiative evaluation, and broad partner engagement.

Conclusions:

• Partnerships are crucial for technical assistance, resource sharing, and best practice dissemination.
• Advancing C-R/R requires enhanced collaboration within and across public health departments.
• Public-private partnerships offer opportunities to further develop and sustain C-R/R initiatives.