Immunization Registry

There are many barriers to immunizing children on time, including not having up-to-date records.  Many physicians will not immunize without seeing the record; hence, opportunities to immunize are frequently lost because a child's record is not available.

One tool that can assist with record accuracy is a computerized program that maintains accurate records of all immunizations given for each child.  This is known as an immunization registry.

A registry will:

  • Provide an official printout of an immunization record for parents/guardians to be used for day care, camp, and school entry;
  • Identify children who are overdue for scheduled vaccinations so they may be contacted by health care plans or providers and brought up to date;
  • Maintain the security and confidentiality of patient information;
  • Enable health care providers to readily determine the immunization status of a child during a visit and make the most of opportunities to immunize.

In Minnesota, Stearns, the registry system used is known as MIIC (Minnesota Immunization Information Connection).  It is a computer program used by health care providers, parents, public health agencies, and schools to house complete and accurate records of a person's immunizations, no matter where they got those shots.

Stearns, Sherburne, Benton, and Wright counties are working together with area clinics, hospitals, the Minnesota Department of Health, and insurance companies to maintain the regional immunization registry in central Minnesota.  This large database stores and retrieves vaccination dates for children in these four counties as part of the statewide system known as MIIC.

Easy storage and retrieval helps clinics, schools, and parents because all vaccine dates from all the clinics are sent to one place for retrieval, which in turn assures greater accuracy when determining the child's next required vaccines.  However, parents can opt out of MIIC and should talk with their provider if they are considering not participating in the registry.

The Stearns County Public Health Division provides lead services for the immunization registry.

Questions about MIIC and other registry information can be found at the following websites: 
Minnesota Department of Health 
National Center for Disease Control
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Registry Program

Roselyn Carter and Betty Bumper have founded Every Child By Two, a national program to have every state require vaccination at school entry date.