Information systems to record information about vaccination
Strong information systems to digitally record information about vaccination, immunisation information systems, are an integral part of well-functioning vaccine programmes.
Immunisation information systems are an important tool for vaccination programmes. They hold data both at the personal and population levels, and are a valuable resource for individuals and the community: individuals are empowered to make informed decisions on vaccination, while improving the ability to detect patterns of vaccination in the community leads to better targeted vaccination programmes and consequently better public health.
The European Commission acknowledges vaccination as one of the most cost-effective public health tools and is keen to support cooperation between Member States on national immunisation programmes. In April 2018, the European Commission proposed a set of recommendations to increase vaccination coverage and ensure access to vaccines to respond to increased outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and increasing level of distrusts in vaccines in the EU. The development of comprehensive immunisation information systems is recognised as an essential tool to the implementation of these recommendations.
As part of its activities in support of the establishment of immunisation information systems in the EU/EEA Member States, ECDC has developed a set of resources:
Public health guidance
Handbook on designing and implementing an immunisation information system
The handbook collates guiding principles and good practices from all aspects of immunisation information systems; from development to implementation.
Surveillance and monitoring
Immunisation information systems in the EU and EEA
This report presents the findings of a survey conducted by ECDC across EU/EEA countries that assessed the level of implementation of IIS and their functionalities, as well as the challenges encountered during the design and implementation.
Presentation
ECDC Survey on immunisation information systems in the EU/EEA
The findings of a survey conducted by ECDC across EU/EEA countries that assessed the level of implementation of IIS and their functionalities, as well as the challenges encountered during the design and implementation. The aim of the survey was to share knowledge about IIS in the EU/EEA in order to build consensus on the characteristics of an optimal system and to describe differences in core functionalities and standards across countries.
Additional resources
Special issue of Eurosurveillance - Registries: An essential tool for maximising the health benefits of immunisation in the 21st century
April 2017: This special issue of Eurosurveillance features a set of publications on immunisation information systems illustrating the evolution and potential of immunisation registries to impact on health. Examples are provided on how an Immunisation Information System (IIS) enables better management of programmes as well as research and evaluation, all of which leads to quality improvement and innovation.
Read more on external websites
European Commission: Proposal for a council recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine preventable diseases (26 April 2018)