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CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Universally Recommended Vaccinations: Home Visits to Increase Vaccination Rates

CDC

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Home visitors assess clients' vaccination status, discuss the importance of recommended vaccinations, and either provide vaccinations to clients in their homes or refer them to other services. Home visits may be conducted by vaccination providers (e.g., nurses) or others (e.g., social workers, community health workers).

Interventions may be directed to everyone in a designated population (e.g., low-income single mothers), or to those who have not responded to other intervention efforts, such as client reminder and recall systems.

Programs may be implemented alone or as part of a larger healthcare system or community-based program to increase vaccination rates.

Impact

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends home visits to increase vaccination rates in children and adults.

The CPSTF notes, however, that economic evidence shows home visits can be resource-intensive and costly relative to other options.

Results / Accomplishments

Overall vaccination rates increased by a median of 11 percentage points (20 studies with 21 study arms).

Home visits led to meaningful improvements in vaccination rates when used in the following ways:
-With all clients in a designated population (12 study arms)
-With only clients who did not respond to other interventions (9 study arms)
-When focused on vaccinations alone (12 study arms)
-When used to address vaccinations and other health concerns (9 study arms)
-When vaccinations were provided on-site (8 study arms)
-When clients were referred to vaccination services outside the home (13 study arms)
-As the sole intervention (8 study arms)
-As part of a larger healthcare system or community-based program (13 study arms)

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
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, Teens, Adults, Older Adults, Families

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