Immunization information system progress--United States- 2004.

One

of the national health objectives for 2010 is to increase to at

least 95% the proportion of children aged <6 years who

participate in fully operational- population-based immunization

registries (objective no. 14-26). Immunization registries are

confidential- computerized information systems that collect and

consolidate vaccination data from multiple health-care providers-

generate reminder and recall notifications- and assess vaccination

coverage within a defined geographic area. A registry with added

capabilities- such as vaccine management- adverse event reporting-

lifespan vaccination histories- and linkages with electronic data

sources- is called an immunization information system (IIS). This

report summarizes data from CDC\'s 2004 IIS Annual Report- a survey

of 56 grantees in 50 states- five cities- and the District of

Columbia (DC) that receive funding under section 317b of the Public

Health Service Act. The findings indicate that approximately 48% of

U.S. children aged <6 years participated in an IIS. Moreover-

76% of public vaccination provider sites and 39% of private

vaccination provider sites submitted immunization data to an IIS

during the last 6 months of 2004. Overcoming challenges and

barriers to increasing the number of provider sites and the

percentage of children aged <6 years participating in an IIS is

critical to achieving the national health objective. CDC has

developed a plan of action to address those challenges. Major

components of the plan include- but are not limited to- a multiyear

IIS business plan for each grantee and enhanced technical

assistance to grantees with unresolved challenges.