Tracking State-Level Implementation of 2009-H1N1 Vaccination

Background: The 2009-H1N1 vaccination campaign featured a model of federal guidance and structure, with substantial latitude for implementation at the state and local levels.  This created several needs.  In the short-term, key stakeholders at the federal, state and local officials would need access to "real-time" data on key implementation characteristics as the H1N1 season evolved, so that they could consider their own implementation decisions in the context of what other states and localities were doing.   In the longer term, there would be a need for a description of how and why states chose certain implementation strategies, and an evaluation of whether those strategies were effective in accomplishing programmatic objectives.  These data will inform future efforts in pandemic situations.

Setting: All 50 states and 4 metropolitan areas

Population: CDC H1N1 Vaccine Implementation Leads and/or Immunization Program Managers for each project area

Project Description: Data were collected on a regular basis via telephone and email.  Key topics included decisions on the specific patient populations and settings for vaccine allocation; decisions related to expanding vaccine availability to additional populations; and use of school and retail settings.  Data summaries were provided weekly to participants and to CDC officials.

Results/Lessons Learned: As expected, decisions and strategies varied across programs, and were closely related to vaccine supply.   Providing weekly data on how implementation was proceeding across the project areas was a valuable resource for both state and federal officials.  Subsequent evaluation activities should take into account the specific objectives, priorities and strategies for each project area.