Slight Bump in Flu Vaccination Rates With Patient Portal Reminders

Influenza vaccine reminders sent to patients through a health care system’s electronic health record patient portal had a small but statistically significant effect on increasing vaccination rates compared with no influenza vaccine reminders, according to a study published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

“Generic patient portal reminders were effective in minimally increasing influenza vaccination rates, but more intensive or more targeted patient motivational strategies appear to be needed,” researchers wrote. 

The study randomized 164,205 patients in 52 primary care clinics across the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) health care system during the 2018-2019 influenza season to one of four groups: no influenza vaccine reminders, one reminder, two reminders, or three reminders. Reminders took the form of a letter sent via the patient portal that addressed the importance of influenza vaccination, vaccine safety, and influenza-related morbidity. 

Influenza vaccine rates documented in the electronic health record, which was supplemented with influenza vaccination data from pharmacies and other external sources, were 37.5% for patients receiving no reminders, 38% for patients receiving one reminder, 38.2% for patients receiving two reminders, and 38.2% for patients receiving three reminders, according to the study.  

When researchers factored in patient self-reported vaccinations received elsewhere, influenza vaccination rates were 37.8% in the no-reminder group, 39.2% in the one-reminder group, 40% in the two-reminder group, and 40.7% in the three-reminder group.  

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference:

Szilagyi PG, Albertin C, Casillas A, et al. Effect of Patient Portal Reminders Sent by a Health Care System on Influenza Vaccination Rates: A Randomized Clinical Trial [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 18]. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1602. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1602