Immunization Best Practices

• CDC: Vaccine Storage and Handling
  CDC guidance for storing and handling vaccines, including transport.
• Vaccine Storage Guide
  Two-page illustrated guide on vaccine storage temperatures and where and how to store vaccine in a refrigerator-only unit, freezer-only unit, and combination refrigerator/freezer unit. Includes tips for proper storage and management of vaccines.
• Vaccine Storage Temperature Log (Celsius) (PDF) and
  Vaccine Storage Temperature Log (Fahrenheit) (PDF)

Immunization schedules

CDC: Assess for Needed Immunizations
Immunization schedules and guidance including child, adolescent, and adult schedules, job aids and immunization schedule apps.

Specific populations

• Health Care Providers Serving Adolescents
  Tips for vaccinating adolescents.
• Pregnancy and Vaccination
  Information about appropriate vaccinations to prevent serious complications from infectious disease for pregnant women, the fetus, and newborns.
  • Perinatal Hepatitis B Information For Health Professionals
    Information on perinatal hepatitis B for health professionals, including reporting, clinical information, and immunization schedules.
• Immunization Information for International Travelers
  What vaccines are needed for people traveling internationally and where to get them in Minnesota.

Contraindications and precautions

• Immunize.org: Guide to Contraindications and Precautions to Commonly Used Vaccines (PDF)
  Guide designed to help immunization providers determine what common symptoms and conditions should contraindicate vaccination and which ones should not.

• CDC: Educate the Parent and Patient
  CDC guidance for providing strong vaccine recommendations, includes Vaccine Information Statements (VISs).
• CDC: Vaccines for Your Children
  CDC tips and resources for improving and maximizing communications with parents.
• Reliable Sources of Immunization Information
  Websites, videos, publications, and more for accurate immunization information.
• Health Care Providers Serving Adolescents
  Tips for vaccinating adolescents.
• CDC: Pregnancy and Vaccination
  CDC's toolkit for prenatal care providers for increasing the use of maternal vaccines by ob-gyns, nurse-midwives, and other health care professionals.

• CDC: Administer the Vaccine(s)
  CDC guidance for administering vaccines.
• Vaccine Protocols
  Information and templates for writing a vaccine administration order, also called a protocol.
• How to Administer IM (Intramuscular) Injections and SQ (Subcutaneous) Injections (PDF)
  An illustrated guide to administering IM and SQ injections.

• CDC: Document the Vaccination(s)
  CDC guidance for recording the vaccinations in a patient's medical record.
• Submitting and Exchanging Data with MIIC
  Resources for data reporting and exchange with the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC).
• Vaccines for Infants, Children, and Adolescents
  Resources for your patients to know what's needed, track immunization records for school and child care, and access Minnesota immunization laws.

• Does billing make sense for your practice?
  Before you begin billing, assess whether or not you have the resources necessary to begin billing health plans.
• Setting up a Billing Program for Immunization Services
  Includes a checklist of activities that providers may consider when setting up a billing program.
• Contracts and Credentialing with Health Plans
  A contract documents the obligations and responsibilities of each health plan, practitioner, and provider organization. Credentialing determines practitioner or provider competency to deliver acceptable medical care.
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for Immunization Services
  Health Plans use EFT as the preferred method for reimbursing providers.
• Claims Management
  Medical claims management software systems automate clinic procedures and activities, and in some cases, can be used as clearinghouses.
• Health Plan Website Registration
  Each health plan has a website health care providers can use for insurance verification, claims status and other functions.
• Billing Information for Patient Encounters
  Guidance on steps to take before and during patient encounters to begin billing.
• Submitting Claims
  Resources and contacts for the process of submitting claims.
• Denial Reason Codes
  Explanations of the four most commonly used denial codes classifications.