CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Universally Recommended Vaccinations: Vaccination Programs in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC Settings

CDC

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Vaccination interventions in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) settings involve activities to assess the immunization status of infants and children participating in the program, and to promote and assist efforts to obtain recommended vaccinations. At a minimum, WIC vaccination interventions involve the periodic assessment of each client's immunization status and referral of underimmunized infants and children to a vaccination provider.

Additional WIC interventions include client reminder and recall systems or tracking and outreach efforts, and incentives to obtain recommended vaccinations (e.g., monthly voucher pickup, which requires more frequent WIC visits when clients are not up-to-date). Access can be enhanced through the provision of vaccinations in WIC settings, or through collocation and coordination of WIC programs with available healthcare services.

Results / Accomplishments

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends coordinated vaccination interventions in WIC settings based on strong evidence of effectiveness in increasing vaccination coverage in children. Evidence on effectiveness was considered strong based on studies in which assessment of client immunization status and referral to a vaccination provider was combined with additional interventions or with the provision of vaccinations on-site or in a collocated healthcare service. Studies included in this review combined assessment and referral with monthly voucher pickup requirements, tracking and outreach, client reminder and recall systems, or enhanced access to vaccination services.

-Vaccination rates: median increase of 10.5 percentage points.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-6595
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Women, Families