Immunization Services in Women, Infants and Children Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

The Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) General Clinic, along with the Immunization Action Plan (IAP) Program, Business Staff and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program together developed a process of evaluating the immunization status of children scheduled for a WIC appointment and provided needed immunizations during same WIC visit. In October 2010 a Public Health Nurse (PHN) experienced in immunizations services was assigned to the WIC Program. WIC PHN responsibilities were to assess immunizations, identify immunizations needed, educate parent/guardian about immunizations and requirements and immunize children attending WIC appointments that were overdue. Business Staff obtained daily WIC schedules and highlighted children whose records indicated they were overdue for immunizations. WIC staff flagged children identified in MI-WIC (Michigan’s Management Information for WIC Electronic System) records not up-to-date with immunizations. IAP program performed immunization data entry into the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) from records provided by WIC parent/guardian. The entire process allowed for check and balances so no children were missed. Since inception of Immunization Services children have been brought up-to-date on immunizations, immunization status of children enrolled in WIC significantly improved and the number of children identified as overdue for immunizations at time of their WIC appointment has decreased.