Immunization Information Systems

The use of electronic health information to support clinical and public health services has increased in recent years. One of the leaders in advancing this field is immunization information systems (IISs). Immunization information systems are confidential, populationbased, computerized databases that record all immunization doses administered by participating providers to persons residing within a given geopolitical area. They began to be established in the 1970s mostly as local or regional systems that were intended primarily to consolidate childhood vaccination histories to support immunization delivery at the point of pediatric clinical care. In recent years, IISs have evolved to utilize emerging interfacing technology and industry standards to facilitate the exchange of information among a more diverse set of clinical and public health immunization partners within and outside their respective jurisdictions. They have developed a multitude of functions and features that have made them essential components of immunization service delivery and management to clinicians, public health, and other stakeholders such as schools and health plans for individuals of all ages. With the growing exchange of electronic health information and the increased demand on IIS data and services, IISs face new opportunities and challenges to ensure the complete, accurate, and timely capture and availability of immunization information.