• S J Cunningham.
• Department of Pediatrics, Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 1999 Aug 1;15(4):255-9.

ObjectivesTo assess the vaccination status and vaccinate eligible children with age-appropriate antigens.DesignIntervention.SettingPediatric emergency department in an urban, public hospital.PatientsConvenience sample of children, aged birth through 72 months.InterventionsImmunization of eligible children.Main Outcome Measures1) Immunization coverage rates in the sample population, 2) Acceptance rates of immunization.ResultsA total of 9321 children were enrolled over a 2-year period. Fifty-nine percent were documented to be underimmunized. Overall, 2514 children received a total of 6482 immunizations. Parents who carried portable immunization cards documenting that their child was underimmunized were almost five times more likely to accept immunization for their child than parents who lacked documentation (71% vs 15%, P < 0.0001). The estimated cost of providing immunizations in the emergency department was $47.15 per child immunized, or $18.56 per immunization given.ConclusionsThe majority of children with documentation of immunization status were underimmunized. When documentation of underimmunization was available, parents were significantly more likely to accept vaccination. These data suggest that vaccinating children in nontraditional settings is feasible and support the creation of an accessible vaccine registry.

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