8 minute read

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

As we navigate this transitional period awaiting the appointment of new leadership at HHS and CDC, I want to assure you that our commitment to advancing IIS remains steadfast. Regardless of who ultimately guides our broader public health agenda, our mission—to promote and support the use of immunization information to ensure healthy communities—remains at the forefront of our efforts every day.

While change on the horizon may bring new priorities and approaches, we continue to focus on the work that matters most: strengthening our systems, ensuring robust data integrity, and supporting our community. We understand that leadership transitions can spark uncertainty, but our team stands ready to adapt and innovate in response to evolving needs. Our ongoing projects and initiatives are a testament to our dedication, and they will continue as we work to meet both current challenges and future opportunities.

Speaking of the future, we are reviewing and updating our organizational strategic plan. Our goal is to align with emerging priorities and further enhance our impact. Our board will meet next month to continue this important process, and we anticipate having a draft ready to share with the membership at the AIRA 2025 National Meeting in April. This collaborative effort will ensure our vision remains forward-thinking and responsive to the evolving public health landscape.

Together, we continue to shape a future where robust immunization data empowers communities, supports public health decision-making, and builds a safer tomorrow for all.

Looking ahead

• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting will be held February 26–28

Wishing everyone strength and peace as we move forward together.

Rebecca Coyle, MSEd

Executive Director

Please join us on February 20, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET for a dynamic discussion about determining the total number of non-VFC providers in a jurisdiction. The IIS Data Analyst Collaborative (IDAC) is an opportunity for IIS data analysts to share, discuss, and learn from their peers. During these one-hour meetings held quarterly, participants have a chance to ask questions, discuss their experiences, share their successes, and more!

Please fill out the Meeting Registration form to attend. This event will be capped at 50 participants.

Elevate your immunization information system (IIS) and immunization programs by becoming a host site with the CDC’s Public Health Associate Program (PHAP). These CDC-funded PHAP associates are energetic, skilled, and career-minded individuals who can enhance your program’s capacity to deliver critical public health services. Since 2007, over 1,650 associates have worked with state, tribal, local, and territorial health agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations, strengthening public health systems nationwide.

Host sites report significant benefits, with 94% recommending the PHAP program to others and 91% ready to supervise associates again. Associates bring fresh perspectives to projects, support innovation, and help fill gaps caused by staffing shortages. Host sites provide an invaluable, robust training experience that will help advance the next generation of public health professionals.

Empower your IIS program with new talent and fresh energy. The next host site application period will be open February 3–28. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/phap/php/host/index.html or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Speaker Notifications
Speaker notifications for the AIRA 2025 National Meeting were sent out on Tuesday, January 21. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract! Your contributions are vital to shaping an engaging and insightful program, and we’re excited about the dynamic sessions planned for this year’s meeting.

Register for the AIRA 2025 National Meeting
Don’t wait! Register before Sunday, March 2, and receive the early bird registration rate. The AIRA 2025 National Meeting will take place at the Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA 99201.  Located just steps from Riverfront Park and downtown attractions, this year’s venue offers a perfect backdrop for collaboration and learning. The AIRA room block is filling up quickly so be sure to reserve your hotel room soon!

The meeting kicks off a day early on Monday with a dynamic opening plenary, educational workshops, and a lively networking reception to set the tone for the week. Join us to explore the latest in IIS, reconnect with colleagues, and soak in Spokane’s scenic views and vibrant city charm.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🌲

AIRA will be participating in HIMSS25, from March 3–6, in Las Vegas, Nevada! HIMSS25 is the premier event for health information and technology professionals to connect, innovate, and collaborate on solutions that improve global health. With HIMSS25 less than two months away, advance pricing ends Sunday, February 9. Find more information and register on the HIMSS25 website. AIRA members receive a discount. Select American Immunization Registry Association as a HIMSS Collaborating Organization and use the code GC25AIRA during the registration.

AIRA and the Immunization Integration Program are excited to host several in-person events, including the AIRA networking session at HIMSS25, “Improving Immunization Data Quality and Interoperability Through Cross-Sector Collaboration.” Join us March 5, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Wynn hotel on the Convention Promenade to connect with peers, explore AIRA’s initiatives, and learn about strategies to improve immunization data quality and interoperability across EHRs, HIEs, pharmacy systems, and IIS. Preregistration for the networking session is encouraged but not required.

Join us on Monday, February 24, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET for an engaging Discovery Session where we explore how California is leveraging immunization data to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness. This exciting session, led by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), dives into the findings from its first year using mandatory reporting for influenza testing and vaccinations to assess vaccine effectiveness for the 2023–2024 flu season.

This presentation will cover:

• Insights from California’s data on flu vaccine effectiveness
• Methodology and tools behind linking flu test results with vaccination data
• Challenges and lessons learned along the way

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn from California’s experience and join in a lively Q&A discussion following the presentation!

Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email with calendar links for easy access. If you can’t make it, a recording will be available in the AIRA Repository. We hope you’ll join us on February 24!

AIRA members can submit and review information requests—a circulation of questions to and answers from the community. To submit an information request to the IIS community, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Information Request” in the subject line. Anyone who provides a meaningful response to an information request will be entered into a raffle to win a $25 gift card and will be recognized during the AIRA 2025 National Meeting awards ceremony. 

Open Information Requests

• AIRA and PHII are seeking information about any materials or key messages you share with your provider sites about the importance of data quality, including report cards or feedback reports on their submission quality. Thank you in advance for any materials or messages you can share with us!
  
  If you are willing to share, please reach out to Mary Beth Kurilo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by February 12, and don’t forget to include your contact information for follow-up.
  
  
• The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is seeking information regarding IIS handling of polio unspecified (CVX 89). As an unspecified CVX code, CVX 89 may represent any formulation of the polio vaccine. However, receipt of certain formulations (OPV monovalent, bivalent, and unspecified) may leave a patient under-vaccinated for polio. Among the OPV formulations, only the OPV trivalent formulation administered on or after 4/1/2016 is considered valid for completion of U.S. polio recommendations. Given this, Washington’s DOH would like answers to the following questions:
  
  How does your IIS treat CVX 89 in relation to the completion of U.S. polio recommendations? In other words, does your IIS consider a CVX 89 as counting toward the completion of the polio series, or does your IIS consider it invalid toward the completion of the polio series?
  
  Does your IIS follow up on submitted reports of CVX 89 and map the CVX 89 to a more specific polio CVX code? If so, what information is used to determine what CVX code to map to?
  
  Does your IIS make different decisions if you know CVX 89 was administered outside of the United States versus inside?
  
  If you are willing to share, please reach out to Katherine Graff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by February 19. Don’t forget to include your contact information for follow-up.

Information requests are viewable only by individual members and individuals affiliated with member and partner organizations. Recent information requests can be found by using the “Information Requests” filter in the AIRA Repository. Just log in to view these valuable resources! If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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CDC worked with the IIS community to update the IIS Functional Standards, which outline the necessary operations, data quality, and technology for IIS to support immunization programs. IIS Functional Standards version 5.0 represents a scheduled update to align with the 317/VFC Cooperative Agreement that will start on July 1, 2025, and with evolving health IT and immunization needs.

CDC measures progress toward achieving the IIS Functional Standards through a set of indicators. When the functional standards change, the indicators must also change. Development of updated indicators kicked off this fall.

When defining indicators, CDC aims to minimize the information jurisdictions are asked to provide. We plan to use existing data sources to assess programs, such as quarterly routine vaccination data submissions, validation results from Measurement and Improvement activities, and Provider Education Assessment and Reporting (PEAR).

We expect to complete this review of indicators in the next six months and will update the community about our progress. Watch for more in upcoming IIS Info Briefs and IIS All-Awardee Forum events. Contact your IIS SME with questions or to learn more. 

IIS technology partner product testing and validation through Measurement and Improvement (M&I) has been available since 2020. Product testing and validation provides IIS technology partners with an objective, independent testing process for their base product or modular component. The available data enables IIS technology partners to share their progress toward meeting national standards with the broader IIS community. The results can be shared with current and potential IIS customers and/or used to make enhancements to further align with standards.

In November 2024, the Measurement for Assessment and Certification Advisory Workgroup (MACAW) approved product testing and validation updates. IIS technology partner products are now eligible to receive Validation status at the complete level only if they opt into Validation. To reflect this change, the Aggregate Analysis Reporting Tool (AART) will display only complete levels of Validation for IIS technology partner products.

If IIS technology partners have questions, please submit a technical assistance request using the form or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To learn more about IIS technology partner product testing and validation, check out these resources in the Repository:

• IIS Technology Partner Product Testing and Validation Summary 
• IIS Measurement and Improvement – IIS Technology Partner Product Testing and Validation FAQ

In July 2023, AIRA, CDC, and the Measurement for Assessment and Certification Advisory Workgroup (MACAW) introduced two new measurable concepts to Testing and Discovery (T&D) as part of the Measurement and Improvement (M&I) initiative, Patient Matching–HL7 Submission and Patient Matching–HL7 Query. These measurable concepts focus on assessing an IIS’s ability to accurately match and consolidate patient records with variations in key fields such as name and address, enhancing health data interoperability.

Community Engagement and Finalized Measures

Building on outcomes from the first stage of the M&I initiative, T&D, MACAW proposed over 200 measures and tests in fall 2024 for community input as a step toward advancing these areas to the second stage of the M&I initiative, Assessment. Through a robust feedback process, including a three-week comment period (November 4–26) and a community town hall (November 18), AIRA gathered 37 comments from seven groups. After thorough review and deliberation, MACAW finalized the measures and tests in early January 2025.

The finalized measures and tests are now published and available on AIRA’s Repository.

Updated Participation Settings in AART

AIRA has updated participation and sharing settings in AART for all IIS based on their settings for Testing and Discovery. IIS programs are encouraged to review and confirm their participation settings in AART to fully engage with these content areas in the new stage of Assessment.

Initial Assessment Reports: Coming Soon

Initial Assessment reports for participating IIS programs will be available in AART by March 31. These reports will establish a community baseline and provide valuable insights to inform ongoing improvements.

As AIRA and MACAW move forward, your feedback on the methodology, test case scenarios and expectations, and testing results remains critical. This input helps shape the future of the M&I initiative and ensures continuous improvement.

For questions or assistance or to provide feedback, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or submit a request form.

Are you interested in brushing up on your Tableau skills? Or are you new to Tableau and interested in some basic training? Our TUG co-chairs recommend included trainings offered by “The Information Lab.” Its main Zoom events page lists all upcoming Tableau trainings, including 101-level courses and refreshers.

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