Skip Navigation

Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

Sign up for MCHalert eNewsletter

Evidence Tools
MCHbest. Childhood Vaccination with MMR, Flu, and HPV.

MCHbest Logo

Strategy. Immunization Information Systems

Approach. Adopt an immunization information system that alerts medical providers and public health providers about vaccination rates and needs.

Return to main MCHbest page >>

Overview. Immunization information systems. (IIS) are confidential, population-based, computerized databases that record all immunization doses given by participating providers to people who live within a certain geopolitical area.
Immunization information systems are set up to do the following:
- Create or support effective interventions, such as client reminder and recall systems, provider assessment and feedback, and provider reminders
- Determine client vaccination status to aid decisions made by clinicians, health departments, and schools
- Guide public health responses to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease
- Inform assessments of vaccination coverage, missed vaccination opportunities, and invalid dose administration,
- Facilitate vaccine management and accountability

Evidence. Moderate Evidence. Strategies with this rating are likely to work...

Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.

Potential Data Sources. Data to support this strategy can be accessed through:

  • Medical provider satisfaction data
  • Community reported vaccination rates
  • Qualitative feedback from partnered pharmacists on vaccination rates

Outcome Components. This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes (Read more about these categories):

  • Access to/Receipt of Care. This strategy increases the ability for individuals to obtain healthcare services when needed, including preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.
  • Timeliness of Care. This strategy promotes delivery of healthcare services in a timely manner to optimize benefits and prevent complications.
  • Utilization. This strategy improves the extent to which individuals and communities use available healthcare services.

Detailed Outcomes. For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy, access the peer-reviewed evidence and read the Intervention Results for each study.

Intervention Type. Direct Care (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the Public Health Intervention Wheel).

Intervention Level. Community-Focused

Examples from the Field. There are currently no ESMs that use this strategy. Search similar intervention components in the ESM database.

Sample ESMs. Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework (see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).

Quadrant 1:
Measuring Quantity of Effort (“What/how much did we do?”)

  • Number of healthcare providers and public health departments trained by Title V adopting the Immunization Information System. (IIS). (Assesses system adoption)
  • Number of patient records integrated into the IIS. (Measures database comprehensiveness)

Quadrant 2:
Measuring Quality of Effort (“How well did we do it?”)

  • Percent of IIS data meeting national data quality standards. (Measures data reliability)
  • Percent of healthcare providers receiving training by Title V on effective IIS use. (Assesses user capability)

Quadrant 3:
Measuring Quantity of Effect (“Is anyone better off?”)

  • Number of interoperability agreements established between IIS and other health information systems that results in improved efficiency indicators. (Shows system integration)
  • Number of quality improvement initiatives informed by IIS data that results in improved quality improvement indicators. (Assesses data-driven decision making)
  • Number of providers showing improved vaccination rates after implementing IIS-based reminder systems. (Quantifies provider-level impact)
  • Number of public health policies or interventions developed based on IIS-derived insights. (Assesses impact on public health strategies)

Quadrant 4:
Measuring Quality of Effect (“How are they better off?”)

  • Percent of IIS resources allocated to improving data completeness that results in higher quality data. (Measures system development)
  • Percent of IIS interfaces and materials available that results in reported increase in knowledge and/or skill. (Assesses usability)
  • Percent of providers showing improved vaccination rates after implementing IIS-based reminder systems. (Quantifies provider-level impact)
  • Percent of public health policies or interventions developed based on IIS-derived insights. (Assesses impact on public health strategies)

Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies:

  1. Move from measuring quantity to quality.
  2. Move from measuring effort to effect.
  3. Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists.
  4. The most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.

Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.

References

https://www.thecommunityguide.org/media/pdf/Vaccination-Immunization-Info-Systems.pdf

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U02MC31613, MCH Advanced Education Policy, $3.5 M. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.