Immunization Records
Information System - Data
Sources
Data Source
- The Immunization Records Information
System (IRIS) was developed for public health
departments in 1993 to maintain the
immunization records of all school-aged
children within their jurisdictions. Reports
are regularly sent to the Ministry of Health
on the level of immunization reached within
their health units.
- Immunization levels are calculated
for each of the six diseases (diphtheria,
tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella)
for which immunization is required under the
Immunization of School Pupils Act (1982) as
well as the number of students exempted and
suspended from school because of failure to
receive a vaccination.
Data Limitations
- Low immunization coverage levels may
appear in some years, mainly because children
are at the age where their booster for a
particular vaccine becomes overdue.
- Haemophilus influenzae
type b (Hib) immunization levels
for children under five years of age may be
incomplete because it is not a mandatory
vaccine. For those children attending day
care/nursery schools, the Day Nurseries Act
requires the operator to collect information on
childhood immunization. This is the only method
of receiving Hib records and, therefore, the
health unit would not have information on those
children not attending day care/nurseries.
Although Hib is a regular part of a child's
immunization schedule, concrete collection
methods are not in place.