On September 21, 2021, HLN released a new version (v1.30.1) of the Immunization Calculation Engine (ICE) in support of updates to the COVID-19 vaccine. ICE is a state-of-the-art open source software system that provides clinical decision support for immunizations for use in Immunization Information Systems (IIS), Electronic Health Record (EHR), and Personal Health Record (PHR) Systems.
I have written previously about the role that Immunization Information Systems (IIS) play in the US with respect to providing authoritative, complete information about vaccinations for the citizens within their jurisdictions. Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leadership, the IIS community is making strides towards enabling a more transparent exchange of information between IIS. This is to primarily ensure that vaccinations received by an individual in a location other than where they live (for example, a workplace or school in another state) will find their way to the IIS in the individual’s home jurisdiction. This ensures that the IIS where a person lives has as complete a record as possible.
HLN’s Noam Arzt attended the AIRA 2021 National Meeting held on August 3-5 in Portland, Oregon. Around 175 individuals attended in person supplemented by nearly 200 remote attendees. Throughout the three-day event, AIRA provided interesting speakers, and engaging panels on a variety of topics.
I have been writing for some time on the topic of vaccine credentials in the US and especially the role of public health registries in creating and supporting them. While the rules around data management for vaccinations apply within the US, people move in and out of the country and their data needs to move with them. Managing and documenting vaccination events for people inside the US who received COVID-19 vaccinations outside of the US is challenging and may not get easier anytime soon.
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American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) 2021 National Meeting – August 3-5
IIS Consumer Access Strategies in the Age of COVID: presented by Dr. Noam Arzt
IIS provide complete and comprehensive immunization records for the individuals whose records they hold either directly or through a clinical provider. A key factor of reopening in the United States and some other countries may be a requirement for individuals to prove that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. “Proof” will likely be embodied in a paper – or perhaps electronic – certificate whose source and contents can be independently verified to ensure validity. The increased use of immunization data has led to different strategies applied by IIS to provide access to the information. This presentation will discuss specific approaches.