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Better vaccination recordkeeping urged Minorities are less likely to have received all recommended vaccinations and are more likely to have received too many vaccinations than other population groups, according to a study by Paul Darden, M.D., MUSC Pediatrics.   Darden’s study concluded that vaccination records, or shot cards, provide an effective method for parents to assume control of vaccination. However, the shot cards must be maintained by the parent regardless of the number of clinics the child visits.   Darden’s study, which focused on vaccination rates in minority populations, found that while disparities exist among children of all ethnicities, shot cards also help children of all ethnicities to remain up-to-date with their vaccinations.   Unfortunately, poorly maintained shot cards also can lead to increased rates of over-vaccination for all ethnicities, especially in Hispanic populations. This effect may be due to incomplete shot cards. Darden explained that over-vaccination often results for children that receive vaccines from multiple facilities.   Darden presented his findings on patient-held shot cards and whether they help eliminate racial health disparities at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Francisco April 30.   With the help of investigators Kristina Gustafson, M.D., MUSC Pediatrics, and Robert Jacobson, M.D., Mayo Clinic-Pediatrics, Rochester, Minn., the study asked whether patient-held records improve health disparities in up-to-date rates of vaccination and protect against over-vaccination.   The study included a review of public files of the 1999-2003 National Immunization Surveys from validated surveys of households with children 19-35 months old. The study also used provider-based vaccination records.   Parents reported the race/ethnicity of a child, where immunizations were obtained, and whether a shot card was used. Children in this survey were classified as up-to-date or over-vaccinated based on providers’ records. The study determined that patients who used handheld records were more likely to be up-to-date; however, use of handheld records also was associated with increased over-vaccination. While children of all races were more likely to be up-to-date when parents used a shot card, the use of the shot-card did not eliminate the differences in immunization associated with race and ethnicity.   For more information on this study, contact Darden at 876-8512.   Friday, May 5, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.