Proper vaccine administration, storage, and handling practices play a very important role in protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable disease. Immunization Program staff conduct site visits with healthcare providers who receive publicly funded vaccines in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Site visits are performed to assure that:

• The provider staff are ordering vaccine properly and accounting for each dose of publically purchased vaccine they receive from the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP);
• The provider site is properly storing and handling that vaccine; and
• The provider staff are screening and documenting the Vaccine for Children (VFC) status of each child who receives a publically purchased vaccine.

The site visit provides an opportunity to perform formal training and education with the provider. Additionally, the site visits assist in identifying and resolving provider questions and concerns in order to support the program staff in meeting CVP program requirements. Compliance with CVP requirements helps to assure that all children in the State of Connecticut can be vaccinated with viable vaccines to help protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases.

During 2020, 20% of primary care providers enrolled in the CVP received a site visit by immunization program staff.  The pandemic contributed to the decline in 2020.

DPH Immunization Partners

Government: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CT Department of Social Services/Community Health Network (CHN), CT Department of Children and Families, CT Local Health Departments/Districts, Tribal Governments, Health Departments from other states, Emergency Response and Public Health Preparedness

Organizations and Coalitions: Connecticut Vaccine Advisory Council (CVAC), Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Foundation for Children, CT American Lung Association, American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA), Every Child By Two, Association of Immunization Managers (AIM), American Cancer Society

Business and Industry: Pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines, Immunization Information System (IIS) vendors, electronic health record (EHR) vendors, insurance companies

Health Care: Private and public providers, community health centers, school based health centers, hospitals

Education: Daycares, schools and colleges, Board of Nursing, State Department of Education, Yale School of Public Health

Community Services: CT Department of Social Services, Community Health Network (CHN), Local WIC Offices, tribal services, services for immigrants and refugees, homeless shelters and programs, domestic violence shelters and programs, Hispanic Health Council, Maternal Infant Outreach Program - City of Hartford Health and Human Services (MIOP) , Family Strides, Head Start, Healthy Start, Nurturing Families, Connections, Mom’s Project, Positive Parenting, Project Mother Care, Reach out and Read, Birth to Three, libraries, churches, Community Health Center Family Wellness Center/New Britain, Weston Women’s League, Human Resources Agency of New Britain (HRA), Family and Children’s Agency (FCA) of Norwalk, Spanish Speaking Center, United Way

The Public: Parents and the general public

A strong working relationship between the Health Department Immunization Program and health care providers enrolled in the Connecticut Vaccine Program and providing feedback to providers to implement quality improvement recommendations that can increase immunization coverage levels and decrease missed vaccination opportunities.

19a-7f. Child immunization standard of care and programs. Provision of vaccines by department. Vaccine policy and reporting.

Continue to conduct provider educational site visits according to the CDC guidelines to increase provider knowledge of administrative requirements and proper storage and handling of vaccines to ensure the highest quality vaccine continues to be available to all children.

Enhance training for program staff that conducts the visits, so that they may identify requirements and assist practice staff in implementing recommendations in a practice environment.