Boston Launches Trial of Registry To Track Flu Vaccinations
On Friday, Boston launched a trial of a new flu vaccination registry, the Boston Globe reports.

The registry is designed to improve flu intervention efforts. Boston is believed to be the first city to embrace this approach to tracking flu vaccinations.

Trial Details

Under the trial, patients who receive flu shots will receive an ID bracelet with a bar code. Then, basic information, such as the patient's name and age, will be entered into the patient tracking database.

In addition, electronic health records will keep track of who administered the vaccine, the site of the injection and the time of day it was given.

The trial does not require any additional spending by the city.

Future

Eventually, city health officials say they want to create a citywide registry to track residents' flu vaccinations. The network would allow public and private flu shot providers to add data to the registry.

Officials say such a system could help identify areas with low rates of vaccination and improve the flu vaccination process as a whole (Smith, Boston Globe, 11/21).

Boston is creating a vaccination map by listing the names of residents who already had flu shots. To facilitate the task, the city is tapping technology by using a method usually tried for disaster monitoring.

All residents who get inoculated with flu vaccine will receive a bracelet with an ID code that contains data of the person and the shot, which will be logged in a handheld device.

Once a map is drawn up based on the entered data, it would be easier to identify places where many are still vulnerable to the respiratory ailment. It may also prove valuable if more serious health concerns hit the city such as a global flu pandemic or a bioterrorism attack.

Boston is the first U.S. city to use this method in monitoring flu vaccinations. Influenza kills 36,000 people in the U.S. annually, mostly seniors.

The original intent of Boston when it purchased the tracking system was to use it for man-made and natural disasters. The system was tested and found effective at the Boston Marathon and the Fourth on July extravaganza.

Originally posted by TeddiRevolution
This happened last year, you are in no danger of being "marked" now than you were yesterday. At lease read the fine print before you jump to conclusions.

Originally posted by house of mirrors

I can't believe so many people aren't embracing what a gift this vaccine is and how our government is trying to help us stay healthy.

We should all want the shot.