Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices recommend annual influenza vaccination for asthmatic children ages 6 months and
older. The best way to notify parents of this requirement has not been studied extensively.
The objective of this study was to assess the change in vaccination percentages by the addition
of mail notification to routine provider verbal notification among a military pediatric
asthmatic population.
Asthmatic children 6 months through 18 years of age enrolled to Shaw Air Force Base
Pediatric Clinic (mail notification, n = 114) and to Wilford Hall Medical Center Pediatric
Clinic (verbal notification, n = 820) during the 2004-2005 influenza season were identified
using the Military Health System database. The Air Force Complete Immunization Tracking
Application database identified influenza-vaccinated patients. Percentages of vaccination
compliance were compared using a two-tailed test.
There was a significantly greater percentage of influenza vaccination among patients notified
by mail (p < 0.006). When vaccination percentages were compared within age groups,
there was no significant difference between written versus verbal notification except among
patients >5 to 10 years of age, favoring written notification (p < 0.004).
Among this military pediatric asthmatic population, the addition of written notification of
the need for influenza vaccination appears to be a better method than verbal notification alone
in patients >5 to 10 years of age. (Pediatr Asthma Allergy Immunol 2006; 19[4]:200–204.)
