Last updated: January, 2024

Author: Immunization Program, Vermont Department of Health

The number of trainings for providers on the Vermont Immunization Registry has been steady for many years. For the entirety of 2021, live trainings were canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the immunization program wasn't idle. The program crafted multiple videos and support materials to provide trainings to users, which will continue to supplement provider trainings in the future.

Keeping children up to date for immunizations requires medical providers to have easy access to immunization records. This is often challenging, as people move and change providers. Immunization Registries, also known as Immunization Information Systems (IIS), provide a centrally located, secure repository for immunizations administered in Vermont. The Registry provides scheduling guidance to providers, which can be helpful if children have fallen behind for immunizations. And with Registry access, providers can assess their practice to help improve immunization delivery through reports that help identify children who are not up to date for specific vaccine series.

Complete immunization records can prevent unnecessary immunizations, ensure children can attend school, and help providers identify persons in their practice who can benefit from addition protection against a preventable disease.

This performance measures focuses on whether Vermonters are better off as a result of Health Department's Immunization Program and Registry. 

• Primary Care Providers
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Academy of Family Practitioners
• Vermont Hospitals
• Vermont Health Insurers
• Vermont Pharmacies
• School Nurses
• Head Start
• Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)

As more Vermont medical providers adopt electronic medical records in their practice, sending immunization records to the Vermont Immunization Registry becomes much easier. Virtually everyone agrees it is helpful to have access to a single record for each individual so that no matter where that person seeks care, their immunization history is available to credentialed users. The Immunization Registry continues to seek all available sources of immunization records, including pharmacy records and billing information.

Health professionals at each of Vermont’s 12 district offices train medical practices in their area to use the Registry.

More videos and resources will be available on the Vermont Department of Health website to help new users get familiar with the Registry.

The Immunization Registry actively solicits and imports batch files of historical immunization records from many other sources including health insurance billing records, provider offices, and pharmacies to compile the most complete and accurate immunization record possible for all Vermonters.

The Immunization Registry is collaborating with Vermont Information Technology Leaders to enable electronic medical records at provider offices and hospitals to send immunization records directly to the Immunization Registry via secure HL7 message. 

The Immunization Registry also seeks data from out of state entities who provide immunization services to VT residents. The Registry is also importing “real time” data from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.