Due to 100 percent compliance, Metroplex Adventist Hospital has received the 2009 ImmTrac Award for Excellence, distributed by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

After a catastrophic outbreak of childhood measles due to improper immunizations in the early 1990s, the TDSHS introduced ImmTrac, a statewide immunization tracking system.

ImmTrac, a free, confidential registry designed to consolidate a child’s immunization records from multiple providers and store them electronically in a secure central system, attempts to ensure all registered children receive the proper vaccinations at the appropriate times.

For Metroplex Adventist Hospital in Killeen, registration and immunizations are a part of the protocol for newborns.

“When a child is born at our Women’s Center, we request that the parent sign a consent form to vaccinate their newborn and enter this information into the ImmTrac system,” said Carolyn Lockridge, Director of maternal/child services for the Sue Mayborn Women’s Center at Metroplex Adventist Hospital.

“It’s vital that parents keep their children current on their vaccinations, and ImmTrac is a great way to keep track of that information, all across the state.”

The ImmTrac system, widely used by pediatricians and school nurses throughout Texas, keeps all records of children’s immunizations updated and on file. “Once a child is registered, even if they move to a different city or county, their immunization records can easily be accessed by authorized providers,” said Lockridge.

“This ensures that each child will be properly immunized and less susceptible to diseases.”

Through the ImmTrac system, the TDSHS hopes to increase vaccination coverage for all children in Texas, and Metroplex Adventist Hospital is committed to continuing its dedication to this initiative, Lockridge added.