Evaluating the Accuracy of the Annual Statewide Kindergarten Vaccination Survey Submitted to Public Health Authorities by School Systems, Oklahoma, 2018

J Sch Nurs. 2022 Oct 12:10598405221130701. doi: 10.1177/10598405221130701. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Recent trends in vaccine hesitancy have brought to light the importance of using accurate school vaccination data. This study evaluated the accuracy of a pilot statewide kindergarten vaccination survey in Oklahoma. School vaccination and exemption data were collected from November 2017 to April 2018 via the Research Electronic Data Capture system. A multivariable linear regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between students who are up to date for all vaccines comparing school reported and Oklahoma State Department of Health-validated data. Adjusted vaccination data were overestimated by 1.0% among public schools and 3.3% among private schools. These results were validated by a random audit of participating schools finding the school-reported vaccination data to be overestimated by 0.6% compared to true student immunization records on file. Our analysis indicates that school-reported vaccination data are sufficiently valid. Immunization record audits provide confidence in available data, which drives evidence-based decision-making.

Keywords: community health; data validation; kindergarten; school health; school immunization audit; vaccination.