Pharmacy Information Systems Saved the Vaccine Industry

During the recent pandemic, hundreds of millions relied on overlooked technology platforms to access updated vaccination records and make informed decisions.

Over the past decade, Immunization Information Systems (IISs) have become essential public health tools across every state. These systems support clinical decision-making in clinics and pharmacies, helping to reduce both under- and over-vaccination.

According to a research article published by Expert Review of Vaccines on May 20, 2025, 36% of IISs operate nationally, 47.7% meet the U.S. CDC definition, and 17% are interoperable with personal health records.

And 11.7% provide direct access to vaccination data for vaccinees or their guardians.

Other key features include automated reminder systems for recipients and providers (12.1%), near real-time or real-time data entry (11%), the inclusion of demographic and socioeconomic data (16.7%), and the capacity to document vaccine refusal or hesitancy (10.2%).

These researchers say, 'IIS improves population-level surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases. Persistent data standardization, interoperability, and cost-effectiveness evaluation limitations must be addressed.'

'Strengthening these aspects is crucial to fully harness the potential of IISs in various healthcare settings, where enhanced vaccination tracking and targeting are most urgently needed.'

In many ways, IISs are similar to SureScripts, which was founded in 2001 by CEO Kein Hutcheson and Kurt Proctor.

Today, this innovative platform enables doctors and pharmacists to exchange e-prescribing information seamlessly. About 27.2 billion network transactions have been processed.

Another platform has been the backbone of IIS for several decades.

STC Health has collaborated with the CDC to set the national standards for state immunization registries since 1993. Over the years, STC's national immunization data exchange network has 50,000 + pharmacies to all IIS and managed 1 billion immunization events during the pandemic.

In the second half of 2025, these systems will continue providing access to international travelers' clinical data, helping AI applications determine which travel vaccine is needed for their next destination.

For example, new vaccines such as Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® chikungunya vaccine are now recommended when visiting outbreak areas in the Indian Ocean and South America.

As the former U.S. Secretary General Dr. C. Everett Koop once said, with better health information, providers and patients can effectively collaborate to 'take charge of your health.'