VA IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION EXCHANGE WITH STATE INFORMATION SYSTEMS (IIS)

VA Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Exchange collaborates with the CDC and IZ Gateway to enable national immunization data sharing. As a result, this initiative connects the Department of Veterans Affairs with state-level IIS to improve vaccine data accuracy and accessibility. Specifically, state IIS are secure, confidential databases that track immunizations administered to individuals across healthcare settings. These systems, in turn, support public health efforts by identifying coverage gaps and preventing duplicate vaccinations. To facilitate this, the IZ Gateway, developed by the CDC, enables standardized, streamlined data exchange between providers and state IIS programs. Therefore, we’re implementing an automated, bi-directional data exchange between VA systems and participating state immunization registries.

This includes near real-time reporting of VA-administered vaccinations to state IIS systems across the country. In addition, it enables VA to query state IIS records and retrieve immunization histories for Veterans. Consequently, this access supports clinical decision-making and improves continuity of care for patients across multiple systems. Importantly, we ensure that exchanged data follows national standards for security, privacy, and interoperability. By doing so, we reduce manual data entry, lower administrative burden, and minimize the chance of error. Furthermore, we help VA clinicians make informed decisions by providing complete immunization records at the point of care. We also assist the VA Office of Public Health with strategic planning for national immunization information exchange.

Our support includes developing policies, managing state data sharing agreements, and coordinating technical implementation. Moreover, we engage with stakeholders at both state and federal levels to ensure policy alignment and collaboration. To achieve this, our team connects VA systems to state registries using the CDC’s IZ Gateway infrastructure. As a result, this connection allows consistent, scalable data flow between VHA and state public health systems. Ultimately, our work enhances Veteran care, improves immunization tracking, and supports national public health objectives.