Assessing the Immunization Information System and Electronic Health Record Interface Accuracy for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Immunizations in the United States are given in many different settings including pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and health departments. After a vaccine is administered, the information is uploaded to an Immunization Information System (IIS), usually run by the state in which the vaccine was given. This study assessed the interface between the IIS and the patient’s chart within the electronic health record (EHR) in a primary care clinic. We started this project with a seemingly simple idea during the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: identify the patients unvaccinated against COVID-19 then provide targeted educational outreach. We discovered that because the interface between the IIS and the EHR required a manual query to pull the information into the EHR, it was difficult to identify unvaccinated patients. This was a barrier to educational outreach. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was the impetus for this study, the interface between the IIS and EHR has wider implications. Electronic systems that can store and efficiently transfer immunization information while maintaining confidentiality can help patients and their providers make well informed decisions about all future immunizations.

Authors of this Resource:

Sheila McGreevy 
Megan Murray 
Leny Montero 
Cheryl Gibson 
Branden Comfort 
Michael Barry 
Kalee Kirmer-Voss 
Allison Coy 
Tahira Zufer 
Kathryn H Rampon 
Jennifer Woodward