Records request response rate and vaccination status of first-time college students at a mid-sized Midwestern university

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the response rate of first-time college students to a vaccination records request, and to obtain student vaccination rates for selected vaccines. Participants: Student health records for the fall 2018 cohort of first-time college students were reviewed. Methods: Vaccination and response rates were compared based on sex, race/ethnicity, and home state. Results: There was a 66% response rate to the vaccination records request with no difference in response rate based on student demographics. Students exceeded most of the Healthy Campus 2020 vaccination targets. The human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningitis ACWY vaccines had the greatest room for improvement. Female students were significantly more likely to have a completed HPV vaccine series. Conclusions: Records response rates may be improved by students accessing and reporting state vaccination information during a required orientation. Following (CDC) guidelines for vaccination success may improve vaccination rates for HPV and menACWY.

Keywords:

• American College Health Association
• health records
• Healthy Campus 2020
• HPV
• vaccinationcollege health

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the entire thesis committee and the campus Student Health Center, Statistical Consulting Center, and the Department of Health Education and Health Promotion for their support of this research.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United State of America and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.