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It's a New Day in Public Health.

The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

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Managing Immunizations

Contact the Immunization Section

Increase Immunization Rates in Children

Low immunization rates leave children and communities vulnerable to some serious and life-threatening diseases. The following strategies are proven actions private and public providers can undertake to increase immunization rates in children:

  • Administer the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine to all infants.
  • Be "4" Sure. Give the 4th DTaP on time.
  • Check every child's immunization status at every visit and give all needed immunizations simultaneously.
  • Educate your patients about common misconceptions about vaccination.
  • Follow only true contraindications.
  • Follow the Minimum Interval Catch-up Immunization Schedule for children who start late or fall behind.
  • Immunize on-time, every-time.

Reduce immunization record fragmentation

  • Enroll in the Florida SHOTS™ (Florida State Health Online Tracking System).
  • Use the Florida SHOTS™ to look up records for each child before immunizing to avoid administering unnecessary shots.
  • Record all shots administered into the Florida SHOTS™.

Ensure vaccines are affordable.

Enroll in the Florida Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, which provides vaccine at no cost to providers to immunize children who meet certain eligibility requirements. 

Use reminder/recall systems

  • The Florida SHOTS™ includes mechanisms to perform reminder/recall.
  • Use letters, postcards, and phone calls to remind parents to bring children in when immunizations are due and to recall children when shots are overdue.
  • Manual Reminder and Recall System

Participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual National Immunization Survey (NIS).

  • Complete NIS questionnaires to verify immunizations given to children of surveyed parents.
  • The Immunization Program can assist providers in completing the questionnaire by searching multiple sources to obtain a complete copy of a child's immunization record.