Healthy Shot in the Arm

This article describes the US state of Indiana's online vaccination registry system, the
Children and Hoosiers Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP). This system, according to the article,
allows physicians, schools and health departments to track a child's vaccination records, even if the child
receives vaccines in multiple locations.



The author describes the difficulty that Fort Wayne Community Schools had during the 2003 vaccine shortages. This system, she
argues, has helped the school system to keep track of students who fell behind on their vaccines during that time.
The programme has, according to Boen, contributed to a rise in immunisation rate of children at age 3 from 51%
in 2004 to 75% in 2005.



Privacy issues are also addressed, and the article points out that doctors control who in their offices have access to the password needed to
view records. Schools also are given only read-only access.



Despite the advantages, the author notes that it has been difficult to get private doctors to participate.
According to the author, "fewer than 10 percent of family physicians and
pediatricians" are using this system in the Fort Wayne area.



Click here to visit the CHIRP
registry system described in this article.