Immunization Best Practices

On this page:
Manage vaccine
Assess patients for needed vaccines
Talk with parents and patients
Administer the vaccine
Document vaccinations
Program billing

Manage vaccine

• 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/or Vaccine Storage Temperature Log (Fahrenheit) (PDF)
• CDC: Vaccine Storage and Handling
  CDC guidance for storing and handling vaccines, including transport.
• For information on planning and running a mobile vaccination site and considerations for transporting, storing, and handling vaccine review Vaccination at Satellite, Temporary, or Off-site Locations (PDF) and Transporting Vaccines (PDF).

Assess patients for needed vaccines

• 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.
• 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.

Talk with parents and patients

• Talking with Parents and Patients About Vaccines
• Reliable Sources of Immunization Information
  Websites, videos, publications, and more for accurate immunization information.
• 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.
• Health Care Providers Serving Adolescents
  Tips for vaccinating adolescents.
• Current Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Coverage Rates
  Current immunization coverage rates show who is up-to-date on their immunizations at the specific point in time.

Administer the vaccine

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

Document vaccinations

• Submitting and Exchanging Data with MIIC
  Resources for data reporting and exchange with the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC).
• CDC: Document the Vaccination(s)
  CDC guidance for recording the vaccinations in a patient's medical record.

Program billing

Immunization Program Billing
Billing resources for provider that vaccinate including setting up a billing program, contracts and credentialing, EFTs and managing and submitting claims.