(261) Framework for Public-Private Partnerships for Real-World Data Exchange of Immunizations Records for Public Health Surveillance

Background: Combatting the COVID-19 pandemic re-ignited the necessity for efficient exchange and transfer of health information, most particularly immunizations to monitor the uptake and safety of newly deployed treatments and vaccines in response to a public health emergency.

Objectives: To describe the innovative partnership history for collaboration among the Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and the Sentinel Initiative health plan data partners to support public health surveillance, two-way process flow to request and receive registry vaccination information for health plan enrollees, and combine the vaccinations into a safety surveillance database

Methods: Using data exchange agreements for the last 14 years, we outlined historical examples and processes of bidirectional exchange of information in accordance with privacy safeguards set by all entities using a large commercial insurance plan as a case example. We detailed the safety surveillance database and how the IIS data are processed.

Results: We contacted 54 IIS jurisdictions to obtain immunization data for enrolled members. We executed data use agreements and implemented validated data pipelines. IIS data was linked with enrolled members using personally identifiable information and IIS specific data linkage algorithms. Extracted immunization records were transformed and loaded into common data models (CDM). The process is dependent on the registry’s preferred exchange methods i.e., secure file transfer protocol, Web Server, Email and HL7. Restrictions exist on frequency, record types, age groups, server availability, or data use. For each matched individual, vaccine clinical codes (CVX and/or CPT), administration date, and/or descriptions are requested. Records are reviewed for completeness and match with a common identifier. By December 2023, data from 30 IIS registries were ingested into the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) and Sentinel CDM databases, with vaccinations dates from 2008 to current. IIS data has increased the observed number of vaccine-related claims by 18%, from approximately 99 to 117 million. Observed COVID-19 vaccines increased by 2-fold, observed mpox vaccines increased by 5-fold and observed shingles vaccines increased by 30%.

Conclusions: IIS and health plan data partners joined forces to prepare and address public health priorities. The 14-year collaboration allowed vaccine information to be shared in time-efficient manner to respond to time-sensitive public health surveillance. This overview provides solutions to vaccination record exchanges for integration into a public health safety and surveillance claims-based initiative and can be expanded to include more IIS jurisdictions.