KEYWORD1:
GIS, Immunization Information Systems, Bioterrorism, Risk Assessments

BACKGROUND:
The ability to evaluate the potential impact of a disease, both natural or bioterrorism related, supports pre-event, event and post event management. Information technology tools can provide a resource for stakeholders to measure the impacts.

OBJECTIVE:
Demostrate a Web-based risk assessment tool that leverages informatio contained in an immunization registry to display the impacts of a specific disease geographically.

METHOD:
Data resource = Statewide Immunization Information System
GIS Tool - User Friendly interface to allow stakeholders to create specific risk assesment maps. The GIS engine uses ERSI's ArcIMS.

RESULT:
An on-line demonstration of the use of an immunization system and a supporting set of tools to measure the impact of a disease event. The particpants will be provided with a demonstration of a live system which can also be used to understand and document the specifications for the key components to support their funding requests.

CONCLUSION:
The data in an immunization information system should be leveraged to support Bioterrorism activities. One of the key uses is to provide decision makers with impact assessments based upon population demographics and immunization coverage rates.
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:
Understand the value of using spatial analysis with and existing resource to support both immunization programs and homeland defense programs.