NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx Boosts Childhood Immunization Rates to Record Highs, Matching National Benchmarks

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx Boosts Childhood Immunization Rates to Record Highs, Matching National Benchmarks

North Central Bronx Hospital protected over 102,000 children and adolescents in 2025 through its vaccination program

May 14, 2026

Bronx, NY - NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx has dramatically improved its immunization rates for children and adolescents, from 84% in 2018 to 91% in 2025, following a series of quality improvement initiatives.

In 2025, North Central Bronx Hospital administered 22,103 vaccine doses to pediatric patients aged 0-19. Across all age groups, the hospital administered 102,385 vaccine doses, underscoring its key role as a frontline immunization resource in the North Bronx.

Today, the hospital's vaccination rate is level with national benchmarks.

"Improving our vaccine rates has been a group effort," said Dr. Jana Romm, Attending Physician of the Pediatric Primary Care Clinic at North Central Bronx Hospital. "Pediatric providers, nursing staff, and clerical teams are focused on outreach and education to bring patients in who are due for vaccines and then teach them about the importance of staying up to date. It is incredibly gratifying to know that thousands of children are protected from preventable diseases. It means that we are doing our jobs as pediatric providers."

North Central Bronx Hospital's success stems from improvements across multiple areas. The hospital implemented dedicated clerical staff for patient contact, increasing follow-up calls from 3 to 6 per patient, and established digital tracking systems to replace paper-based processes.

The adolescent program introduced HPV vaccination at age 9. Physicians now consistently review their patient panels using Epic health maintenance tools to identify care gaps and guarantee timely immunization delivery, while standardized vaccine messaging and documentation procedures have been developed across all clinical staff.

"By starting the HPV series at 9, we have more time to do education about all of the adolescent vaccines," Dr. Romm noted. "Most children in our practice are now up to date by age 11."

Dr. Boris Mashalov, Attending Physician for Pediatric Residents, stressed the community impact: "Immunization is very crucial for the kids and the community, and that is why it is important to get the shots. We are great at this. We assist the community and take them through the immunization process."

Even amid staffing shortages, appointment no-shows, and an increasing number of families with vaccine hesitancy, the hospital has sustained vaccination rates above 91% in both populations. The clinical team spends significant time with families, listening to their concerns and educating them about vaccine safety and importance. To support this, NYC Health + Hospitals has embedded evidence-based materials on frequently asked vaccine safety questions into Epic to support those thoughtful discussions between the provider and family.

"North Central Bronx Hospital is committed to its mission of providing comprehensive quality care to the children and adolescents of the community we serve," said Alfredo Jones, Chief Operating Officer at North Central Bronx Hospital. "By creating healthy habits early in their lives, we strive to instill preventative behaviors that will carry on into adulthood."

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Contact: Rawle Titus, 332- 259-2512, [email protected]

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/JacobiNYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region's only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi's Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi/.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central BronxNYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women's and children's services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx/.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth -all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.