Immunization Information Systems (IISs)
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Copyright: © 2020 . This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Immunization information systems (IISs) are confidential, population based, computerized databases that support clinical decision making at the point of care by forecasting vaccine needed in particular geographical area. Widespread adoption and use of IISs technology reduces unnecessary health care cost and quality improvement by increasing provider’s ability to assess upto date status of patients and improve vaccination rates for their practice. IIS provide many benefits in pediatrics practices, such as maximize opportunity to administer all recommended vaccines of different countries. The most robust IISs, support health care providers with immunization evaluation and forecasting tools designed to automatically determine the recommended immunizations that are needed when a patients present for vaccination; minimizes duplicate vaccine administration; assists with recalling patients for overdue vaccinations; sending reminders on upcoming immunization; promoting continuity of care by supporting portability of patient’s record; identification of incompletely immunized and vulnerable patients during outbreaks and elimination of unnecessary paperwork. Moreover, the patients and family also get benefited with IIS. IIS helps physicians and healthcare providers make optimal health care decisions for patients based on information available, minimizing the need for a return visit to receive vaccinations that were deferred due to incomplete information; provides a department of health with the necessary information to contact patients directly if a vaccines recalled; provide the most up to date immunization record for school, child care, sports team and when traveling abroad; ensure that patients get only those immunizations that are needed; easier to provide confidentiality and access to records 24/7. There are many such systems implemented by various government and private organizations and they are working along with WHO and GAVI to improve the immunization coverage all over the world.
