Introduction
Infectious diseases remain an important cause of both sickness and death in the community. Surveillance, case-finding, contact tracing, immunization, infection control and risk assessment all work together to assure effective control of infectious diseases by public health. 

This material was prepared to assist school/child care staff in understanding the roles, requirements and authorities under which the Health Unit acts with respect to immunization. Any inquiries about immunization or related matters may be directed to the Vaccine Preventable
Disease Program at (705) 743-1000. 
 

Goal and Requirements 
Under the Mandatory Programs and Services Guidelines, 1997, the goal of the Vaccine Preventable Disease program is to reduce the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases.
Requirements under this program include that: 
 

• 2. 'the board of health, annually, shall assess and maintain records of the immunization status of children in all licensed child care programs as defined in the Day Nurseries Act. . . . " 
• 3. "the board of health, annually, shall assess and maintain records of the immunization status of children attending all schools in accordance with the immunization of School Pupils Act;. . . . "
• 4. "the board of health shall promote the use of and provide or ensure the provision of hepatitis B vaccine to eligible school-aged children. . . ."
• 10. "the board of health shall enter routine immunization records into the Immunization Record Information System (IRIS). . . ." 

Immunization Record Information System (IRIS) 
The Immunization Record Information System (IRIS) was introduced in 1993. The goal of IRIS is to provide health departments with an effective and efficient immunization record information system. Each record has a unique personal identifier, the Ontario Health Card Number (OHCN).
The system automates the review of immunization records using predefined immunization schedule logic appropriate to the age of the individual, and identifies those with incomplete records or those inadequately immunized. This information system is used to collect immunization information on new and inadequately vaccinated children, and to prepare for routine and outbreak immunization clinics.
IRIS allows for the preparation of personalized forms which are used for the provision and collection of information (Appendix A). It automates transfer of immunization records between health departments through a centralized data base. It also allows for the automated updating of the school pupil data base using board of education data files. Summary reports of immunization coverage at the school, regional, health unit or provincial level can be generated for each vaccine preventable disease or groups of diseases. 

The Health Unit collects demographic and immunization information from facilities using a standard form (Appendix A). Information is then entered into the IRIS program. Reports are sent to the Ministry of Health as required.