Measuring immunization registry costs: promises and pitfalls.

INTRODUCTION: The medical and public health communities advocate the use of immunization registries as one tool to achieve national goals for immunization. Despite the considerable investment of resources into registry development- little information is available about the costs of developing or maintaining a registry. METHODS: The objective of this study was to measure the direct costs of maintaining one immunization registry. Cost and resource-use data were collected by interviewing registry personnel and staff at participating pediatric practices- collecting available financial records- and direct observation. RESULTS: The estimated direct cost for maintaining the registry during the 3 calendar years 1995 through 1997 was \$439-232. In 1997- this represented an annual cost of \$5.26 per child immunized whose record was entered into the registry. In all years- personnel expenses represented at least three fourths of the total costs- with the majority of administrative effort donated. Yearly costs increased