Changes in immunization program managers' perceptions of programs' functional capabilities during and after vaccine...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Systems Research

Background:

• The U.S. immunization system is crucial for public health preparedness.
• Emergency events like vaccine shortages and pandemics strain public health resources.
• Assessing the impact of past emergencies on immunization programs is vital for future planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine changes in immunization program policies and Immunization Information System (IIS) functionality.
• To evaluate the impact of the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine shortage and pandemic influenza A(H1N1) (pH1N1) on immunization programs.
• To inform strategies for sustainable public health emergency preparedness.

Main Methods:

• Three surveys administered to U.S. immunization program managers (IPMs) in 2009, 2010, and 2012.
• Comparison of IPM responses across years using McNemar's test to identify changes or consistent responses.
• Focus on policy and IIS functionality changes related to emergency response.

Main Results:

• Immunization programs sustained improvements in communication systems with healthcare providers.
• Many IIS functionality enhancements (e.g., population tracking, risk mapping) were not maintained post-pandemic.
• A significant decline in geographic information systems risk-mapping capability was observed between 2010 and 2012.

Conclusions:

• The Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine shortage and pandemic influenza A(H1N1) necessitated adaptive changes in immunization programs.
• The failure to sustain increased resources and system functions post-emergency underscores the need for robust, long-term preparedness strategies.
• Sustainable public health emergency preparedness requires ongoing investment in systems and resources.