Emerging Standards Topics

ACK Error Reporting (ERR-5)

Refines how errors are communicated in HL7 v2 ACK messages, specifically using the ERR-5 field. This has been incorporated into existing guidance through the...

Acknowledgements (ACK)

Defines how IIS confirm receipt and processing of HL7 v2 VXU messages. This is a core and widely implemented capability, forming the backbone of IIS data exc...

ADT on FHIR

Automation in the protocol and processes to establish exchange with IIS.

Adverse Event Reporting (VAERS)

Refers to reporting vaccine adverse events to the national VAERS system. This is not a core IIS function and is typically handled by providers or other syste...

Aggregate Data Exchange (IHE)

Supports exchanging summarized or population-level data rather than individual patient records. This is defined through IHE profiles and could support IIS re...

Antiviral Tracking

Explores whether IIS could capture and manage data related to antiviral medications alongside immunizations. This is not a core IIS function, though at least...

Appointment Scheduling Integration

Explores whether IIS could support or integrate with vaccination appointment scheduling systems. This emerged during COVID-19, where scheduling tools were of...

Building Bridges

Interviews and relationship-building with countries, regional organizations, terminology authorities, and other partners to understand immunization vocabular...

Bulk Data Exchange (FHIR Bulk Data)

Enables large-scale retrieval of patient immunization data using FHIR APIs rather than individual QBP queries. This supports population-level use cases such ...

Bulk Data Submission

Supports sending large volumes of immunization updates in a single transaction rather than individual HL7 v2 VXU messages. This could improve efficiency for ...

Bulk FHIR Query

Public health query to healthcare for demographic/other updates.

CDC HL7 v2 Guide (Release 1.5)

Refers to the CDC-published HL7 v2.5.1 Implementation Guide used nationally for IIS data exchange. It standardizes VXU/ACK and QBP/RSP interactions across ju...

CDC HL7 v2 Guide (Release 2)

Refers to the next version of the CDC HL7 v2.5.1 Implementation Guide, developed through the IGEG process. This will update and refine national standards for...

CDC WSDL Authentication

Explores improving authentication for the CDC WSDL interface used by IIS for HL7 v2 exchange. Current implementations often rely on long-lived shared secrets...

CDS Contextual Conditions

Expands immunization decision support by including additional patient contextual conditions such as medical conditions, occupation, or risk factors. This sup...

CDS Response Improvements (RSP)

Focuses on improving how immunization evaluations and recommendations are conveyed in HL7 v2 RSP messages. This includes tighter guidance and more consistent...

CDS Schedule Source

Supports communicating which schedule authority (such as ACIP or others) produced a given immunization recommendation. This allows IIS to return recommendati...

CDS Shared Decision Support (SCDM)

Supports indicating when a vaccine recommendation is classified as Shared Clinical Decision Making by the schedule authority. This allows IIS responses to re...

Certificate Management

Explores how immunization information systems, IIS vendors, state IT organizations, hosting providers, and exchange partners issue, install, renew, rotate, m...

Clinical Decision Support (CDS Hooks)

Supports displaying immunization recommendations within an EHR workflow using the CDS Hooks standard. This is primarily an EHR-facing capability, but IIS or ...

Clinical Quality Language

Clinical Quality Language (CQL) is a high-level, domain-specific language focused on clinical quality and targeted at measure and decision support artifact a...

Consumer Access to Records

Enables individuals to access their immunization records directly from IIS. This may use FHIR APIs, patient portals, or digital credentials like SMART Health...

Consumer Identity & Access

Supports identifying and authenticating individuals to access their immunization records. This may involve identity verification, login credentials, and secu...

Consumer Record Corrections

Supports allowing authenticated individuals to request corrections to their immunization records. This could include submitting updates, flagging issues, and...

COVID-19 / Mpox Reporting

Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to support reporting of vaccination and related data to CDC. This includes specialized reporting workflows outside typ...

Data Export Format (DAR-Based)

This idea builds on the existing Data-at-Rest (DAR) extract format already used by IIS for AIRA reporting, where data is exported and processed by the DAR Co...

Data Merge Visibility

Supports providing submitters with insight into how IIS processes incoming data, including which patient or vaccination records were accepted, updated, or ig...

Data Provenance Tracking

Captures information about the source and history of immunization data within IIS. This can support trust, auditing, and data quality efforts. It may be repr...

Data Quality Notifications

Supports notifying submitters or users when data quality issues are detected. This may occur during HL7 v2 processing or through separate reporting mechanism...

Data Quality Reporting

Supports providing standardized reports that summarize data quality issues over time for submitting systems. This could include trends, error types, and comp...

Data Validation Services

Supports validating individual data elements such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, or lot numbers through a common service. This could provide consi...

Digital Record Provenance

Explores capturing and transmitting original digital vaccination records to IIS as supporting documentation for historical doses. Instead of entering a vacci...

Digital Vaccine Cards (SMART Health Cards)

Supports issuing verifiable digital vaccination records using SMART Health Cards, originally implemented for COVID-19 vaccines. Some IIS have deployed this c...

Digital Vaccine Cards (SMART Health Links)

Provides a standardized way to issue verifiable digital vaccination records to individuals. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic using FHIR-based data mode...

Direct Trust

Privacy-Enhancing Health Record Locator Service (PEHRLS) Ecosystem is developing a new Standard to support a voluntary nationwide patient credential and matc...

Disability Data Collection

Explores whether IIS should collect and manage disability-related information as part of immunization records. This is not a core IIS function but may be req...

Emergency Vaccination Reporting

Supports standardized reporting of vaccinations to CDC during public health emergencies, replacing ad hoc flat-file approaches used during COVID-19 and Mpox....

Estimated Vaccination Dates

When obtaining historical information from patients about when they received vaccines, sometimes the exact dates of the vaccine administration aren't known. ...

Event-Based Exchange (FHIR Subscriptions)

Enables systems to receive updates when data changes, rather than polling IIS with repeated queries. This uses FHIR Subscription resources to support event-d...

Fact of Death Exchange

The Fact of Death Exchange topic focuses on the standardized electronic exchange of verified patient death information between Vital Records Offices (VROs), ...

FHIR Dev Days

FHIR DevDays is the world’s leading international conference dedicated to HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). It brings together developer...

FHIR Open Tickets

Review of open tickets in JIRA for FHIR relating to immunizations.

Flat File Data Export

Supports exporting IIS data using a standardized flat file format. While HL7 v2 and FHIR are preferred for interoperability, flat files remain necessary for ...

Flat File Data Import

Supports importing immunization data into IIS using structured flat files rather than real-time messaging. This is often used for bulk onboarding or legacy d...

HL7 Immunization User Group

The HL7 Immunization User Group provides education, implementation support, and a forum for discussion for immunization information system (IIS), electronic ...

HL7 v2 Contextual Conditions Exchange

Defines how EHR and IIS systems can exchange patient-specific Contextual Conditions through HL7 v2 and use them in immunization clinical decision support. Co...

HL7 v2 Contextual Conditions in Immunization Queries

Defines how an EHR can include patient-specific Contextual Conditions as coded observations within an HL7 v2 QBP query. The IIS uses the supplied conditions ...

HL7 v2 Contextual Conditions in Immunization Updates

Explores how an EHR can submit patient-specific Contextual Conditions as coded observations within an HL7 v2 immunization update exchange. These conditions m...

HL7 v2 to FHIR Translation

Translation of HL7 v2.5.1 to FHIR and/or FHIR to v2.5.1.

HL7 v2.5.1 School Roster Reporting

HL7 v2.5.1 messaging between a school information system and an IIS, to support the exchange of student roster information.

Homeless Data Integration (HMIS)

Explores integration between IIS and Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). This is not a core IIS function but may support public health efforts fo...

Identification of Medicinal Products (IDMP)

International standard for the unique identification of regulated medicinal products.

IIP Collaborative

The Immunization Integration Program (IIP) strives to improve the way immunization data is shared, managed, and used to promote public health. The IIP is a p...

IIS Metrics Access (IISAR)

Explores providing direct, on-demand access to IIS aggregate metrics currently reported through IISAR. This would allow systems to query statistics for speci...

IIS Terminology Services

Supports publishing the set of codes used by an IIS, including standard codes such as CVX and local codes like organization identifiers. This could improve t...

IIS to EHR Query

IIS querying EHR for non-IIS Data via FHIR. Overlaps with CDS. Would IIS even want this?

IIS-to-IIS Exchange

Describes data exchange between IIS jurisdictions to support patient mobility and record consolidation. This is standardized through a companion guide and im...

Immunization CDS (ImmDS + HALO)

Defines a structured approach for requesting and returning immunization evaluations and recommendations, including contextual factors. This separates CDS log...

Immunization Decision Support (ImmDS)

Defines a standard approach for requesting and returning immunization forecasts from CDS engines. It focuses on structured evaluation and recommendation logi...

Immunization Focus Group (IFG)

HL7 meeting that operates under the HL7 Public Health Work Group to hold discussions about new and emerging standards, in particular FHIR based projects.

Immunization Record Matching

Focuses on matching and deduplicating immunization records within IIS. This is distinct from patient matching and addresses duplicate vaccination entries. It...

Immunization Vocabularies Collaboration (IVC)

Supports the CDC in maintaining and expanding the CVX code system to represent any vaccination, given at any time, to any person, anywhere in the world. This...

Insurance

IIS do not typically collect Insurance information, but some IIS have explored storing insurance information via HL7 on Provider request.

Interface Security

Explores the security architecture used by immunization information systems and their external interfaces for HL7 v2, FHIR, SOAP, REST, and other forms of he...

International Patient Summary (IPS)

Supports sharing a standardized summary of patient health data, including immunizations, across countries or systems. This uses FHIR-based profiles designed ...

Inventory Reconciliation

Supports aligning vaccine inventory counts between IIS and provider systems to reflect actual stock levels. This addresses gaps in current processes where di...

Inventory Synchronization

Explores synchronizing vaccine inventory between IIS and EHR systems to maintain a consistent view of available doses. This addresses limitations in current ...

Lead Test Query

Supports querying IIS for lead blood level data in jurisdictions that collect it. This is not a core IIS function but reflects expanded use in some public he...

Lead Test Reporting

Supports submitting lead blood level data to IIS in jurisdictions that collect it. This is not a core IIS function and would likely require coordination with...

LOINC Usage in OBX

Defines how LOINC codes are used within HL7 v2 OBX segments for immunization data. This supports consistent representation of observations such as vaccine ty...

Machine Learning

Machine learning, artificial intelligence, large language models

Message Quality Evaluation Tool (MQE)

The Message Quality Evaluation Tool, or MQE, is an open-source application developed to help Immunization Information Systems (IIS) evaluate and improve the ...

Multi-Jurisdictional Query

Allow providers who operate across multiple jurisidictions (e.g. VHA or DOD) to query more than one IIS at the same time.

National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups

These are multidisciplinary groups of national experts (scientists, doctors, health specialists) that provide independent, evidence-based recommendations to ...

NDC Transition to 12-Digit Format

FDA is transitioning NDC from 10-digit to 12-digit. It's a major transformation that will take years to complete.

Newborn Admission Notification Information (NANI)

The NANI Profile describes the content needed to communicate a timely newborn admission 135 notification to public health to be used by Early Hearing Detecti...

Newborn Identity Handling

Addresses challenges with temporary or changing names for newborn patients in IIS. This impacts patient matching and record accuracy. It is typically handled...

Official Record Documents (PDF)

Supports generating official immunization records in PDF format for patients or providers. This is a common output requirement but not tied to a specific int...

Patient Record Matching

General topic about improving matching, including how patients are identified and how these identities are resolved between systems during interoperability.

Patient Record Matching Integration

Addresses how IIS integrate with or standardize patient matching processes. All IIS perform matching, but there is no common standard for how matching servic...

Patient Updates (ADT)

Uses HL7 v2 ADT messages to communicate patient demographic updates to IIS. This can improve data quality by keeping patient records current without requirin...

Pharmacy Integration

Supports reporting of vaccinations from pharmacies to IIS and potential bidirectional exchange. Pharmacies are a major source of immunization data, especiall...

Population Analytics

Supports analysis of immunization data for public health insights, reporting, and decision-making. This is not a specific interoperability standard but often...

Preferred Name (Patient)

Provides guidance on transmitting a patient’s preferred name alongside their legal name in HL7 v2 messages. This supports more accurate and respectful identi...

Priority Group Classification

Supports identifying patients as part of defined priority groups, such as those used during pandemic response. This was implemented by some IIS during COVID-...

Product Identifiers/Serialization

Identification of specific products with serialized identification codes.

Provider Enrollment Integration

Supports automating provider enrollment into IIS using standardized APIs. This could allow EHR systems to submit required information directly, reducing manu...

Provider Identifier

Significant resources are needed for every site involved in the immunization ecosystem to identify themselves as an immunizing provider for the site. Current...

QBP on FHIR

Query/response with public health/IIS via FHIR. This is a discussion on the alternative FHIR solution(s) HL7 v2 QBP/RSP. The alternative solution(s) include ...

Query by Parameter (QBP)

Query by Parameter (QBP) allows for querying systems to retrieve immunization histories, immunization evaluations, and immunization recommendations.

Race/Ethnicity

Recording of race and ethnicity in the US is going through a transition. Some changes to HL7 v2 may be needed.

Received Code Validation

Focuses on validating and interpreting codes received by IIS, such as CVX or MVX values. This ensures consistency and correctness of incoming data. It is a c...

Record Synchronization

Supports keeping immunization records synchronized between IIS and external systems. This goes beyond one-time exchange to maintain alignment over time. It m...

Reminder/Recall Services

Supports identifying patients due or overdue for vaccinations using IIS data. This could be exposed to external systems through standardized queries or bulk ...

School Data Exchange

Supports sharing immunization data with school systems for compliance and reporting purposes. This is a common programmatic need but lacks consistent nationa...

Serology Reporting

Explores capturing and exchanging serology (antibody) test results related to immunization status. This was discussed during the COVID-19 pandemic but was no...

SMART Applications (SMART on FHIR)

Explores how SMART on FHIR applications could interact with IIS to provide user-facing tools or enhanced workflows. This could enable third-party apps to sec...

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Social Determinants of Health play a large role in healthcare, but what is their role within IIS?

Space Health

Exploring FHIR for astronaut health records and immunizations in spaceflight scenarios (SHIG)

Standards & Interoperability Steering Committee (SISC)

The Standards & Interoperability Steering Committee (SISC) provides technical support and guidance to AIRA members and the immunization information system (I...

Subpotent Vaccinations

Vaccinations are sometimes administered but considered to not count for calculating immunity because of a cold chain break (vaccination is not longer effecti...

Synthetic Data

Creating data that can be used for demonstrations and testing.

TB Screening Data

Explores capturing and exchanging tuberculosis screening data within IIS. This is not a core IIS function but may be required by specific jurisdictions. It w...

TEFCA (National Exchange Framework)

A national initiative to enable standardized health information exchange across networks. It is not an IIS-specific standard but may influence how IIS partic...

Unified Nomenclature of Vaccines (NUVA)

The Unified Nomenclature of Vaccines (NUVA) is designed to compile comprehensive vaccination histories from both digital and physical sources. The aim is to ...

Vaccine Availability Search

Explores providing services to help individuals locate available vaccines, often based on inventory or provider location. This emerged during COVID-19 as sep...

Vaccine Barcode Scanning

Supports capture of vaccine information using barcode scanning at the point of care. This improves accuracy of product, lot, and expiration data. It may inte...

Vaccine Exemptions and Deferrals

Explores capturing and communicating vaccine exemptions or deferrals within IIS. This became more visible during COVID-19 but is not consistently managed acr...

Vaccine Inventory Management

Addresses tracking and reporting of vaccine inventory levels within IIS or connected systems. This is a programmatic need that may be supported by HL7 v2 or ...

Vaccine Lot Validation

Enables validation of vaccine lot numbers against reference data to improve data quality and safety tracking. This can support IIS in ensuring accurate repor...

Vaccine Ordering Integration

Explores standardizing vaccine ordering workflows between EHR systems and IIS or related systems. This could allow providers to initiate or manage vaccine or...

Vaccine Storage & Temperature

Explores whether IIS could support tracking vaccine storage conditions and temperature monitoring. This extends beyond immunization records into supply chain...

Vital Records Birth Data Exchange with IIS

IIS routinely receive registered live-birth information from jurisdictional Vital Records systems so newborns can be established in the immunization registry...

VTrcks-IIS API

VTrckS (Vaccine Tracking System) is a secure, web-based system developed by the CDC to manage publicly-funded vaccine supply chains. It integrates purchasing...

VXU on FHIR

Update/acknowledgement with public health/IIS via FHIR. This means providing an alternative FHIR method to the HL7 v2 VXU and ACK messages, This includes the...