On December 15, 2020, HLN released a new version (v1.26.2) of the Immunization Calculation Engine (ICE) in support of the Pfizer COVID 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.
- Version 1.26.2 includes support for new COVID-19 Vaccine Group (with the Pfizer vaccine only).
- A subsequent release, coming soon, will likely add support for the Moderna vaccine.
- The ICE Implementation Guide has also been updated with the new codes COVID-19: CVX, Vaccine Group, Evaluation Focus, and Recommendation Focus codes.
The full software release is available for download at https://cdsframework.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ICE/pages/18972704/Downloads
Plans for COVID-19 Support in ICE
Once a vaccine has been approved for use by the FDA (either Expanded Access, EUA, or full licensure), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will hold an emergency meeting and publish recommendations in a very quick time frame (i.e., days). HLN intends to release a version of ICE that includes updated COVID-19 forecasting as early as possible. The initial release will contain COVID-19 logic that is known at the time of the release. As additional, relevant information on COVID-19 becomes available from official sources, HLN will continue to release additional versions of ICE, at appropriate times.
See the feature article about ICE in Open Health News.