7 minute read

APRIL 24, 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committed to equitably protecting the health, safety and security of Americans. CDC’s efforts to improve the availability and use of public health data to inform decision making and action requires modern systems, tools and technology across the public health ecosystem and investments in capacity building.

In February 2024, the CDC Foundation was awarded federal funds from CDC, through the Association of Public Health Laboratories, to launch the Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI). The goal of WAI is to strengthen public health agencies and authorities’ (PHA) capacity to deliver information system improvements that are of top priority to each PHA by adding technology and data experts to their teams. The WAI’s support of diverse PHAs in improving their information systems is anticipated to also accelerate progress toward the CDC’s Public Health Data Strategy (PHDS) goals. This initiative aims to increase the ability of PHAs serving state, tribal, local or territorial jurisdictions to leverage modern technology and interoperable data for public health action.

Through this initiative, the CDC Foundation plans to focus its efforts on a select number of PHAs that exhibit a strong willingness to both participate in the work and maximize the impact of receiving additional staff. WAI will place these technology and data staff members in approximately 40 PHAs. Our first cohort will include fewer than 10 PHAs, as we establish project processes.

The application for the first cohort will be posted on the CDC Foundation Requests for Proposals web page on Thursday, April 25, 2024, with responses due within two weeks (11:59 pm PST, Wednesday, May 8). We will also share frequently asked questions and host an information session on Monday, April 29 (2 to 3 PM EST) to support applicants. We are sending this message to provide extra time to prepare you and other PHAs for the application process.

Below are additional details:

• Overall, WAI aims to place approximately 130 WAI team members in 40 PHAs serving state, tribal, local or territorial jurisdictions. The initiative is being developed in coordination with public health associations and national agencies to ensure our actions complement other national systems development and data modernization efforts.
• CDC Foundation seeks to place WAI team members within selected PHAs as soon as May 2024. WAI Cohort 1 aims to partner with up to 10 PHAs to support the placement of 1-5 full-time WAI team members such as Data Scientists/Analysts, Project Managers, Software Developers/Engineers, Cloud Architects/Engineers and beyond within each selected PHA based on need.
• The CDC Foundation will provide salary and support WAI team members through June 30, 2025. To maximize success, we will coordinate with selected PHAs to ensure the skills of team members match the needs of PHA systems improvement strategies and teams.
• WAI Cohort 1 seeks a diverse, national cohort of PHAs across jurisdiction types that will benefit most from rapid placement of WAI team members (for example, PHAs with an information systems improvement plan/strategy but insufficient workforce to implement critical components).
• Due to the formative nature of the first cohort for developing future WAI cohorts, we will require that selected applicants:
  • Have systems improvement project(s) that need staff to execute and are consistent with PHDS goals;
  • Have an individual in place to lead information systems improvement for the PHA;
  • Have sufficient budget to support non-personnel project costs;
  • Already have or can quickly establish any approvals or agreements required for proposed project(s), such as budget approval, legal agreements (e.g., data use agreements), contracts or resource approvals (e.g., IT staff time); and
  • Can support fully remote WAI team members.
• Please note that future cohorts will not have these same criteria, so if your PHA does not meet these criteria, please be on the lookout for future cohort application opportunities.

We look forward to sharing additional information in the coming days.

You read that right! We are thrilled to announce that the official AIRA 2024 National Meeting Agenda is now available.

Take some time to soak it all in, plan your schedule, and anticipate all the connections you’ll make because #AIRA2024 will be here before you know it! There are six days left to register for the AIRA 2024 National Meeting. Don’t miss your chance to experience this year’s National Meeting live and in-person.

With all the excitement in the AIR(A), we’d hate for things to get lost in the shuffle, so we pulled together a to-do list for you.

 #AIRA2024 To-Do List:

• Review the official #AIRA2024 Agenda.
• Register to attend by Tuesday, April 30.
• Sign your IIS team up for a visit to the AART clinic.
• Learn more about our keynote speaker, Rachel Montañez.
• Check out the specially priced Disney theme park tickets.
• Pack your bags!

PPW at #AIRA2024

Keep your eyes peeled for AIRA’s Publication Project Workgroup (PPW). During networking breaks on May 8 and May 9, you will have the opportunity to connect with members of the PPW at their “Let’s Talk Publishing” table located in the Grand Foyer and Exhibit Hall. This is a chance for you to meet with publication experts to talk about moving your National Meeting presentation into publication. Look for the individuals wearing red ribbons that read “Ask Me About Publishing.”

Prepare for Your AART Clinic

IIS staff who are new to Measurement and Improvement (M&I) and AART (Aggregate Analysis Reporting Tool) are also encouraged to attend a 20-minute AART 101 session before attending their AART clinic to maximize their appointment time. If interested, sign up for an AART 101 session time that works for you!

Contact Tesha Lucas at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions. We look forward to seeing you soon!

We are looking forward to learning from you May 7–9 in Orlando, Florida!

For more information regarding the AIRA 2024 National Meeting or this year’s meeting location, visit our official National Meeting website.

Join us for the next AIRA Discovery Session on Monday, May 20 at 4 p.m. ET to hear highlights from the AIRA 2024 National Meeting in Orlando, including recaps of select, highly rated breakout sessions. The webinar will also include time for questions and discussion. 

Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email which contains links to add the meeting to your calendar.

If you’re unable to attend, this session will be recorded and available in the AIRA repository.

Register Today! Sanofi’s webinar on “Protecting Infants from RSV: Update on RSV Prevention Strategies in Infants, Real-World Evidence, and An Open Discussion in Preparation for the Upcoming Season.”

AIRA will be hosting this collaborative webinar from one of our Diamond Corporate Partners on Wednesday, May 22, 1–2 p.m. ET.

During this webinar, you will learn and have an opportunity to discuss:

1. The recent RSV season with a medical overview on health impact, a review of real-world evidence, and insights into how providers are preparing for the next season
2. Emerging immunization information system (IIS) best practice approaches for implementing RSV mAb within systems and processes, as well as highlights of challenges met this recent season
3. Planning for next season’s broader in-patient administration strategies in support of equitable access to nirsevimab

Please stop by the Sanofi booth during the AIRA 2024 National Meeting in Orlando to share your own best practices and challenges with RSV to help shape this webinar discussion!

Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email which contains links to add the meeting to your calendar.

If you or a staff member miss Sanofi’s webinar, content will be available in the AIRA repository.

AIRA members can submit and review information requests—a circulation of questions to and answers from the community. To submit an information request to the IIS community, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Information Request” in the subject line.

Information requests are viewable only by individual members and individuals affiliated with member and partner organizations. Recent information requests can be found by using the “Information Requests” filter in the AIRA Repository. Just log in to view these valuable resources! If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Open Information Requests

• The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment has a school required immunization law that directs standardized immunization documentation, except that they may accept out-of-state Certificates of Immunization that are consistent with their state. They are requesting samples of other states’ IIS forms to review and compare to help streamline the transfer process for new students. 
  
  If you are willing to share your state’s standardized immunization documentation, please reach out to Sara Lopez at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by May 1, and don’t forget to include your contact information for follow-up.
  
  
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and its IIS team would like to hear from other jurisdictions about how they have handled flat file uploads. Additionally, they are interested in understanding how other IIS have transitioned providers away from legacy reporting formats and into more sustainable reporting processes.
  
  If you are willing to share, please reach out to Sydney Zaldana at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by May 8, and don’t forget to include your contact information for follow-up.

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The American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and members of the Measurement for Assessment and Certification Advisory Workgroup (MACAW) met in person April 9–11, in Chicago, Illinois. MACAW welcomed six guest members from the broader public health informatics community to provide technical expertise and knowledge. This group explored two methods to measure Patient Matching, the latest content area of the Measurement and Improvement (M&I) initiative. Via large-group discussions and small-group work, 34 attendees engaged in 22 hours of productive dialogue and hands-on action to define the next steps for advancing these new methods in the M&I process.

A big thank you to all the working group members who invested valuable time to make this effort a success!

Kevin Allen; Scott Benedict; Aaron Bieringer; Jonny Bunker; Nathan Bunker; Shannon Coleman; Rebecca Coyle; Angela De La Cruz; Damon Ferlazzo; Megan Fields; LaTreace Harris; Alexandra Hayes; Adam Howsare; Josh Hull; Mary Beth Kurilo; Eric Larson; Tesha Lucas; Maggie Macias; Dave McCormick; Greg Noe; Jim Pearsol; Shelby Sandstrom; Rebecca Sandtveit; Kevin Samuelson; Lauren Shaw; Kristi Siahaya; Rob Snelick; Kevin Snow; Valentin Sostaric; Chris Sorenson; Hossam Tamri; John Robison; Matt Verdon; David Walker.

Earlier this month, we introduced a portfolio of new digital badges to complement existing Measurement and Improvement (M&I) initiative recognition efforts for IIS that attain at least Basic Validation in at least one of the five measurement areas. Validated IIS can anticipate receiving these e-badges directly to their inbox later this month, coinciding with the release of the first-quarter results for 2024.

We encourage you to review and share the one-page overview available in AIRA’s repository with your team and leadership. This resource offers at-a-glance insights into the benefits and implementation of these badges, which empower IIS to showcase their achievements in a more visible, impactful medium. IIS programs are encouraged to integrate these new e-badges into any suitable digital space permitted by their respective organization or agency. This includes email signatures, program web pages, IIS home pages, and presentation slides.

We look forward to recognizing the progress the IIS community has made with standards alignment at the upcoming AIRA National Meeting in May and throughout the year as IIS adopt and integrate these new badges.

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