Vaccine reminders sent to patients via a mailed letter, text message, phone call, computerized phone call or a combination of these methods can increase immunization rates for both adult and pediatric patients, according to a study published in Cochrane Library.
To assess the efficacy of patient vaccine reminders, researchers reviewed 75 studies conducted in 10 different countries. The studies compared vaccination rates among patients sent reminders with patients who received no reminders, or were exposed to practice-based immunization campaigns or media-based activities designed to promote vaccines.
Collectively, about 8 percent more patients who received reminders experienced timely vaccination compared to patients who received no reminders or just saw vaccine media promotions.
"Patient reminder and recall systems, in primary care settings, are likely to be effective at improving the proportion of the target population who receive immunizations," concluded the study's authors.
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