Utilizing a State Immunization Information System for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

Background:
In the event of an influenza pandemic, timely surveillance of hospitalized cases and the tracking of scarce resources, including vaccine and antiviral agents, will be essential elements of an effective public health response. A secure electronic information system can help meet these needs. The Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) is a state-wide immunization information system (IIS) created in 2002. Eighty-nine percent of Minnesota clinics are active participants in MIIC; 100% of local public health agencies are enrolled. MIIC contains data on 4.2 million patients with 29 million immunizations.

Setting:
Minnesota hospitals and local public health agencies.

Population:
Minnesota infection control practitioners and emergency preparedness staff.

Project Description:
Modules were created in MIIC for hospitalized influenza case surveillance and for tracking scarce resources including distribution of pandemic influenza vaccinations, antiviral medications, and antibiotics. For the 2008-2009 influenza season, MDH requests lab-confirmed hospitalized influenza cases be reported via MIIC. Mass dispensing exercises (2008 Doses Administered Exercise –DAX2008) and online tutorials were held to train appropriate hospital and emergency preparedness staff. During the DAX2008 exercise, 33 local public health clinics entered 4531 influenza vaccinations. These vaccinations aggregated by general population priority groupings were transmitted weekly to CDC.

Results/Lessons Learned:
All 134 hospitals in Minnesota have the option to use MIIC to report hospitalized influenza cases to MDH and 32 of those have participated in training prior to the 2008-2009 influenza season. User feedback continues to be monitored. The DAX2008 exercise showed that priority groups need to be tracked by event and date. This capability will be expanded in MIIC to include all priority groups beyond the general population priority group. Our experience has shown that a secure IIS can be preplaced to address pandemic influenza response needs and enhance public health infrastructure.