School Reports  |  Immunization Index  |  Data and Statistics

School Immunization Validation Survey

Results of the 2003-2004 School Validation

Data in this report was collected from validation surveys
conducted by ISDH immunization field representatives
at a sample of 119 schools throughout Indiana

Indiana State Department of Health

Gregory A. Wilson, M.D., State Health Commissioner

M. Elizabeth Carroll, J.D., Deputy State Health Commissioner

Community and Family Health Services Commission

Wendy Gettelfinger, R.N., D.N.S., J.D., Assistant Commissioner

Immunization Program

Michael Runau, M.S., Program Director

Charlene Graves, M.D., Medical Director

Primary Author

Megan Steiger, M.P.H., Epidemiologist

Immunization Program

Indiana State Department of Health

2 North Meridian

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Published: 06/2004

Preface

Each year, according to Indiana Code 20-8.1-7-11, all schools in Indiana are required to self-report immunization coverage levels of their kindergarten, first grade, and sixth grade students to the immunization program at the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). In order to verify the accuracy of the reports sent to ISDH, the immunization program annually conducts a validation survey on a random sample of schools. The results of the school validation survey for the 2003 - 2004 school year are represented in this report.

Methods

A random sample of schools was selected from the 2211 schools listed in the 2003 - 2004 school immunization assessment database. This sampling was conducted according to the procedures developed by the Assessment Branch of the National Immunization Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total sample size of 119 schools was selected for validations. Of the 119 sites selected, 37 were kindergarten, 47 were first grade, and 35 were sixth grade. In twenty-eight of the schools validated, more than one grade was reviewed.

ISDH immunization field representative conducted site visits at the 119 school locations to review immunization records of students enrolled in kindergarten, first or sixth grade. The field representatives reviewed records for up-to-date or exemption status of students in the selected grade levels. Complete immunization levels for each grade level were calculated and compared with the school’s reported immunization coverage levels submitted for the 2003-2004 school report. Completed validations were submitted to the Immunization Program for review.

Summary Tables and Graphs

The Indiana State Department of Health validated 119 schools from the 2003 - 2004 annual school immunization assessment.

Table 1. Percent of kindergarten, first grade, and sixth grade students with complete immunizations, 1995-1996 to 2003-2004 school years, annual school immunization assessments, Indiana.

*For the 1999-2000 school year, Indiana implemented new school requirements, which affected kindergarten and first grade students.  First grade immunization rates began to be collected with the new requirements.

**Vaccine shortages were experienced during the 2002-2003 school year.

The results of the 2003 - 2004 school immunization validation survey indicate one-fourth of the schools showed no change between the school assessment report and school validation survey.

Figure 1. Percent change in overall completion levels at time of validation compared with school assessment reports, 2003-2004 Indiana school immunization validation survey.
(N = 119 schools)

Table 2: Summary of the 2003-2004 school immunization report validation survey, Indiana (N=119 schools)

Figure 2. Mean comparison of immunization completion levels of schools included in the validation for the 2003-2004 school year, by grade level for the school immunization report versus the school validation survey in Indiana. (N= 119 schools)

Discussion

• Overall, schools showed improvements in immunization rates when comparing the validation statistics to the school immunization reports. The largest increase in immunization rates was in schools with kindergartens assessed.
• Fifty-one out of the 119 schools showed improvement in immunization rates from the time the school immunization report was submitted to the period of the validation.
• Assessments in thirty schools confirmed no change in immunization rates in school immunization report and validation.
• Thirty-eight out of the 119 schools experienced decreases in immunization rates from the time of reporting to the validation.
• The annual school report for 2003 2004 assessment year exhibited improved immunization rates in all grades measured. Significant increases in immunization completion rates were displayed in kindergarten and sixth grade students.
• All schools must strictly enforce immunization policies to prevent the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases among their student population. Failure to comply violates state law and unnecessarily places susceptible students at risk for contracting a vaccine-preventable disease.
• Schools should remain informed on the current immunization requirements for the 2004-2005 school year. School immunization requirements are accessible through the Immunization Program website (http://www.in.gov/isdh/programs/immunization/school_report/minimum_immunization_req.htm).