Patient Reminders Improve Vaccination Rates in Primary Care

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD

Patients reminders such as postcards and text messages improve vaccination rates, according to an updated Cochrane review.

The review included data from 75 studies on reminders sent to nonhospitalized, primary care patients. Among the findings:

• Overall, reminders increased vaccination rates by about eight percentage points.

• High-certainty evidence showed that postcards, text messages, and automated phone calls each improved vaccination rates, relative to no reminders.

• Moderate-certainty evidence suggested that phone calls and letters to patients increased immunizations.

• Evidence was strongest for child and adolescent vaccinations, although benefits were seen for adult vaccinations as well.