Strengthening Immunization Reporting: Smarter Data, Better Outcomes

Vaccines are a cornerstone of clinical care and a priority for public health agencies seeking to prevent and monitor disease outbreaks. In an era of declining vaccine rates, it is critical to understand what factors are contributing to this trend and how to reverse it. California’s publicly available immunization datasets are incomplete, creating challenges understanding true vaccination rates and identifying approaches to improve those rates. Closing these data gaps is a critical first step toward reversing declining vaccination rates and safeguarding public health.

To help overcome this challenge, Blue Shield of California Industry Initiatives hosted a webinar on Strengthening Immunization Reporting: Smarter Data, Better Outcomes. Learn about multi-stakeholder efforts that are underway to understand and improve vaccine data. The panelists discuss progress being made through the Public Health for All Californians Together (PHACT) Coalition, as well as other opportunities to improve vaccine data, including at the clinical practice level. Additionally, the webinar explores how clinicians and public health agencies can use better vaccine data to improve individual and population health outcomes. 

Panelists:

• Eric Ball, MD, FAAP, California Chair, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Kerry D., Senior Program Manager, California Quality Collaborative
• Michael Powell, MSc, Chief, Registry & Assessment Section, Immunization Branch, California Department of Public Health
• Joe Castiglione, Associate Director, Strategy, Partnerships, & Policy, Blue Shield of California (moderator)