Your Florida Immunization Program
The Immunization Program is a part of the Florida Department of Health, Division of Disease Control & Health Protection, Bureau of Communicable Diseases. The Immunization Program focuses on increasing immunization levels in Florida and decreasing vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Mission:
To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, & community efforts.
The Immunization Program promotes, monitors, and provides technical assistance to facilitate the completion of all immunizations in accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This includes:
- Partnering with Children's Medical Services (CMS), the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program, the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) Department of Education, Department of Children and Families, and other Department of Health programs to reach the most children.
- Managing Florida SHOTS™ (Florida State Health Online Tracking System).
- Providing surveillance and outbreak control for vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Managing the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.
- Managing the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program to ensure all pregnant women are screened for hepatitis B disease and appropriate interventions are provided for infected women, their infants, and contacts.
- Educating and informing adults on the need for immunizations and how to access immunization services.
- Educating and informing healthcare workers on the need for immunizations and how to access immunization services.
The Immunization Program's Success
Enhancing immunization services, decreasing barriers and missed opportunities to vaccinate, and improving linkages with other public health programs, such as WIC, have resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Florida.
County Health Departments
County Health Departments (CHDs) are responsible for:
- Providing recommended or required immunizations to all children birth through 18 years of age. Supply recommended immunizations to certain adult clients. These immunizations are given concurrently with other routine services or through immunization clinics conducted by the CHD or their contractors.
- Following-up on newborns at risk for being under-immunized to ensure they begin their immunizations. This is achieved through field visits, phone calls, and mail.
- Reporting and controlling outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
