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What is the core data items?
Printable version of Core Data Items
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The original Immunization Information Systems (IIS) core data items were prepared in 1995 by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) in consultation with the Immunization Grantee Working Group. It was reviewed by the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC), and recommendations of NVAC were incorporated. Contributions were also made by public health representatives and private providers. On February 5, 2007 NVAC approved a new set of core data items which were developed in consultation with CDC and the American Immunization Registry Association. The data items were published in a complete report.
A copy of the complete 2007 NVAC report can be found at http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/nvac/NVACIISReport20070911.doc 
( 1.04MB/38 pages)
The Journal of Public Health Management and Practice published a summary of the complete report in the November/December 2007 edition.
The core data items fall into two categories: required and optional. These elements represent fundamental attributes necessary for identifying individuals and for describing immunization events. Required elements are critical for record exchange purposes, client de duplication, vaccine management, immunization status evaluation, reminder / recall and data analysis or use purposes. Optional core data elements are less important for record exchange. Some optional items (e.g., address) may be useful only at the local level.
The purpose of the core data element is to facilitate record exchange between IIS. It is imperative that, at a minimum, each IIS include in its database schema a method to receive and store all of the required core data elements, even if the IIS does not routinely collect the information. Thus, if an IIS receives a record from one system and subsequently transfers it to another, no required core data elements will be lost in the process. It is strongly recommended that IIS also collect data on all of the required core data elements for their own patients. Prospective implementation should begin on or before January 1, 2009 to enhance completeness and value of IIS data.
References for specific guidance on implementation can be found at the following locations:
The current Health Level 7 Immunization Guide: contains both messaging details and coding definitions, the current copy applies version 2.3.1 of the Health Level 7 standard: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/stds/downloads/hl7guide.pdf (1.60MB/147pages)
An electronically accessible version of the codes can be found on the American Immunization Registry Association Web page: http://www.immregistries.org/docs/IIS_Data_Codebook_040408.xls 
(224 KB/65 pages)(exit)
Listing of Core Data Items
| Label | Status (Required/Optional) |
|---|---|
| Patient name: first, middle, last | Required |
Patient alias name: first, middle, last |
Optional |
Patient address, phone number |
Optional |
Birthing facility |
Optional |
Patient Social Security number (SSN) |
Optional |
Patient birth date |
Required |
Patient sex |
Required |
**Patient race |
Required |
**Patient ethnicity |
Required |
Patient Primary language |
Optional |
**Patient birth order |
Required |
Patient birth registration number |
Optional |
Patient birth State/country |
Required |
Patient Medicaid number |
Optional |
Mother’s name: First, middle, last, maiden |
Required |
Mother’s SSN |
Optional |
Father’s name: first, middle, last |
Optional |
Father’s SSN |
Optional |
Vaccine Type |
Required |
Vaccine Manufacturer |
Required |
Vaccine dose number
|
Optional |
| Vaccine expiration date |
Optional |
| Vaccine injection site |
Optional |
| Vaccination date |
Required |
| Vaccine lot number |
Required |
| Vaccine provider |
Optional |
| **Historical vaccination flag indicator |
Optional |
| **VFC eligibility |
Optional |
| **History of varicella disease indicator |
Optional |
**Patient status indicators that include active, inactive, MOGE, and other classifications |
Optional |
** Changes with the 2007 report.
Other Notes and references:
Patient alias name: first, middle, last
(former names for management of adoptions and name changes)
Patient address, phone number, birthing facility
(these variables should be locally defined)
Immunization Event Identifiers
Vaccine type
(Use HL7-defined Table 0292 - Vaccines Administered (code=CVX) found in Appendix 1. Note that up-to-date versions of this table will be maintained on the National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/stds/cvx.htm
Vaccine Manufacturer
(Use HL7-defined Table 0227 - Manufacturers of vaccines (code=MVX) found in Appendix 1. Note that up-to-date versions of this table will be maintained on the National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/stds/mvx.htm
Vaccine dose number
With a fully operating system, this variable is not needed. However, in the real world, and particularly during the initial startup phase, many systems will be gathering partial histories; therefore, to evaluate histories properly, dose number becomes very important.
Each of the variables listed in the above table are described in detail at the following locations.
The current Health Level 7 Immunization Guide: contains both messaging details and coding definitions, the current copy applies version 2.3.1 of the Health Level 7 standard. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/stds/downloads/hl7guide.pdf (1.60MB/147 pages)
Functions for Future Consideration
Vaccine adverse events monitoring
[Such events must be linkable to the existing national adverse events surveillance system, with immunization information systems having ability to electronically report, without redundant keying of information to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS).]
Vaccine preventable disease reporting
[Such disease events must be linkable to existing local, state and national disease reporting systems, with the immunization information systems having ability to electronically report, without redundant keying of information to the appropriate disease reporting systems.]
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Content last reviewed on July 2, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
