Arch Pediat Adol Med
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Arch Pediat Adol Med · Dec 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialEffect of emergency department immunizations on immunization rates and subsequent primary care visits.
The Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices recommend the routine use of emergency department (ED) encounters for screening the immunization status of children and, if indicated, immunizing them. ⋯ This study provides evidence that the immunization of children in this ED was ineffective at raising their immunization rates; primary care attendance was also unaltered. Major obstacles were as follows: (1) an inability to ascertain accurately the immunization status in the ED and (2) a high rate of parental refusal to accept immunizations in the ED. The standards should be modified to de-emphasize the ED as a routine immunization site for children with access to primary care. Efforts and resources should be directed toward strengthening the primary care system and tracking immunization status.