Pharmacists as Immunizers

July 2010

Dear Certified Pharmacist Immunizer:

The purpose of this letter is to remind all pharmacists administering immunizations of their responsibility to adhere to mandated reporting requirements and to report information on all seasonal influenza, H1N1 influenza, and pneumococcal vaccinations you administered to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

On September 4, 2008, Governor Paterson signed into law amendments to the New York State Education Law, allowing pharmacists to become immunizers for influenza and pneumococcal disease (Chapter 563 of the Laws of 2008). These amendments went into effect on December 3, 2008. Pharmacists serving as immunizers are subject to two reporting requirements; one contained in Education Law § 6801 and the other in S 2168 of the New York State Public Health Law/New York City Health Code Section 11.07:

  • Education Law § 6801 requires that all pharmacists who administer vaccines report the administration, absent any individually identifiable information, to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) in a manner required by the Commissioner of Health; and
  • Public Health Law § 2168 requires that information on all persons 18 years of age and younger who receive vaccinations from providers in New York State (NYS) outside of New York City (NYC) be submitted to the NYS Immunization Information System (NYSIIS). Vaccinations administered by providers in NYC are reported to the New York City Immunization Registry (CIR) of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) [See also NYC Health Code §11.07]. In addition, when reporting information on vaccine(s) administered to persons 19 years of age and older, identifying information may be submitted to NYSIIS or CIR if consent to share this data is obtained from the patient.

To fulfill these requirements, you must report into both systems when vaccinating children (or adults with consent). A pharmacist can run reports in NYSIIS/CIR that will produce the number and type of vaccines given and the age of the persons vaccinated. This data can then be used to report to the on-line survey available through Zoomerang, described in detail below.

I. Requirements for Reporting of Immunizations Administered

A. Requirements of New York State Education Law Section 6801

Education Law § 6801 requires that pharmacists report all administered immunizations to the NYSDOH absent any individually identifiable information. NYSDOH is requiring that the information below be reported to the NYSDOH using a Zoomerang web application that can be accessed at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22ASUL57QZT. Pharmacists must report the required data by August 30, 2010 and include all cumulative data from the following timeframes:

  • Seasonal Influenza: 12/03/2008- 03/31/2009 and 04/01/2009-03/31/2010
  • H1N1 Influenza: 10/01/2009-03/31/2010
  • Pneumococcal: 12/03/2008- 03/31/2009 and 04/01/2009-03/31/2010

The following data elements must be reported:

  1. Immunizing agent given (seasonal influenza, H1N1 influenza, or pneumococcal vaccine).
  2. Aggregated totals for persons vaccinated for each vaccine type.
  3. Age of the person vaccinated according to the following categories for H1N1 vaccine only (if known):
    • 6 months to 17 years;
    • 18 years old;
    • 19 years to 64 years; and
    • 65 years and older.
  4. Type of facility at which vaccination was given (e.g. pharmacy, POD, etc.), and county in which the facility is located in;
  5. Certified pharmacist license number;
  6. Date on which immunizer certification was obtained;
  7. Type of individual who issued your Standing Order; and
  8. Whether doses administered to children were reported into NYSIIS/CIR.

Future surveys may require additional data elements. Adequate notice will be given to pharmacists so that the data can be collected in time to complete the yearly survey. For the 2010-2011 influenza reporting season:

  • All immunizing pharmacists will need a Health Commerce System (HCS) account to report survey results. To sign up for an HCS account, please go to the following website: https://hcsteamwork1.health.state.ny.us/pub/cgi-bin/applinks/pubforms/medprof
  • The following age categories will need to be reported: individuals19-64 years of age and 65 years of age and older. It is recommended that pharmacists begin collecting this information immediately so that 2010-2011 totals will be available for reporting by March 1, 2011.

B. Requirements of New York State Public Health Law Section 2168/New York City Health Code Section 11.07

In addition to the aggregate reporting required above, Public Health Law §2168 requires that all immunizations administered to persons 18 years of age and younger be reported to either NYSIIS or the CIR, depending on the location of the provider administering the vaccine. New York City Health Code Section 11.07 further defines the requirements for immunization in NYC. Specific identifying information is required for the reporting of immunizations including, but not limited to, name, gender, date of birth, vaccine type, manufacturer and lot number. In addition, vaccination information on individuals 19 years of age and older can be reported to NYSIIS or the CIR if consent to do so is obtained from the person being vaccinated. As a result of Executive Order No. 29 issued October 28, 2009, consent to share data is not required for influenza or H1N1 vaccinations given at Points of Dispensing (PODS) in NYS or H1N1 vaccinations given anywhere in NYC from October 28, 2009 through April 17, 2010.

II. Additional Information

To obtain information on enrolling in NYSIIS and training opportunities, please go to http://www.nyhealth.gov/prevention/immunization/information_system/. To obtain information on CIR, please go to www.NYCwebsite.gov.

Outside of New York City, call the NYSDOH Bureau of Immunization at 518-473-4437. In New York City, call the NYCDOHMH Bureau of Immunization at 212-676-2323.

Sincerely,

Debra Blog, M.D., M.P.H.
Director, Bureau of Immunization