New Mexico moves toward immunization registry to aid tracking of vaccine rates.

2004 MAR 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- While New Mexico already has emerged from the bottom of national immunization-rate rankings, state health officials say their efforts would be bolstered by a proposal that moved closer to legislative approval February 9, 2004.

They say a proposed statewide immunization registry would enable them to more accurately track immunization rates and give health care providers an important treatment tool.

On February 9, 2004, the New Mexico House unanimously approved legislation that would establish such a registry. The Senate last week unanimously approved an identical bill.

Recent figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's National Immunization Survey show the state has gone from 49th to 43rd in the nation. But health officials concede there's still a long way to go.

The problem is that New Mexico's current tracking system relies on health care providers, who are asked to submit vaccine administration forms, said Steve Nickell, immunization program manager for the state Health Department. However, only some 75% of vaccine doses get reported, he said.

A registry would close the loop on "missed opportunities" stemming from parents' sometimes foggy memories about their children's shot records, said New Mexico Health Department spokeswoman Beth Velasquez. Doctors could quickly check the statewide computer registry to see whether children are missing shots or already had them, preventing double vaccinations.

"The registry not only benefits parents but will help the Department of Health track immunization records," New Mexico First Lady Barbara Richardson told a House committee last week.