California has had an immunization registry called CAIR (CA Immunization Registry) which has been voluntary for outpatient providers.  However, as of January 1, 2023, reporting becomes mandatory for all providers of vaccines under AB 1797 (Bill Text - AB-1797 Immunization registry. (ca.gov)).  This bill also requires providers to report the Race and Ethnicity information for each patient in the registry to support assessment of health disparities in immunization coverage.

The CAIR web site can be accessed online, click here to access the CAIR web site. FAQs about the registry can be accessed online.  Common questions include how to sign up for using the registry, how to communicate between the different reporting registries in the state, how to enter past historical vaccines, and how to enter race/ethnicity data if not identified at the time of the initial vaccination(s).  The home page has Training and Resources as well as help for finding patient immunization records.  

In our state, we are already mandated to report COVID and Flu vaccinations to CDPH using the NHSN (National Healthcare Safety Network) ( Long-term Care Facilities (LTCF) Component | NHSN | CDC ), but that site doesn’t communicate with CAIR.  However, if you are reporting through myturn.ca.gov, that data does crosswalk between CDPH, CDC, and CAIR.

This law should help providers optimize their resident’s immunization program by knowing what vaccines should be offered and by not repeating previously given vaccines that don’t yet need updating.  As a reminder, in SNFs, we are required to offer COVID, Flu, and Pneumococcal vaccines, but our residents may refuse the offered vaccine.  A resident refusal isn’t considered valid, unless they have first received and reviewed a VIS (Vaccination Information Statement) for that vaccine in their native language written at a 6th grade level of education.  The VIS patient education handouts are free and available online, click here for access: Immunization Action Coalition (IAC): Vaccine Information for Health Care Professionals (immunize.org) .

Look for more help optimizing your vaccine program in the future through AMDA, the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, which has a CDC grant for helping facilities do this; the program is being piloted in select facilities this year and is called Moving Needles.

At CALTCM, we hope this information helps you prepare for CAIR by January 1, 2023.