Public Health Informatics and Information Systems Chapter: Immunization Registries: Critical Tools for Sustaining Success

Widespread- population-based immunization registries hold the promise of increasing immunization rates in the United States and of effecting a reduction in the rates of morbidity and mortality attributable to vaccine-preventable disease. Such registries also provide both direct and indirect benefits for parents- school officials- providers of vaccination services- and public health organizations. In recent years- public health officials have made considerable progress in assisting states and communities to build such registries. Funding and sponsorship- development of standards- and production of guidelines are only a few of the steps that public health organization have taken to assist state and local health departments to develop and implement immunization registries. Still- the widespread implementation of population-based immunization registries faces many hurdles in the years ahead. Progress in increasing the participation of immunization providers- ensuring the confidentiality of registry information- integrating immunization reporting with provider systems- and securing funding must continue if immunization registries are to deliver the full range of their potential benefits. As support from healthcare organizations and members of the public continues to grow- meeting the registry objective set forth in the publication Healthy People 2010 is clearly realizable.