Florida SHOTS™: Keeping SHOTS in Check

The growing complexity of the immunization schedule makes it difficult for health-care providers and parents to keep track of which vaccines are due and when.

Busy practices have found that Florida SHOTS can assist them in the challenges of assessing ever-changing and complex immunization requirements and schedules involving different vaccine manufacturers and combination vaccines.

Florida SHOTS was designed with functionality that provides the following benefits to providers.

• Immunization records from all providers are consolidated into one record per patient.
• Immunization information is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The registry provides a reliable immunization history for any child, whether a new or continuing patient.
• It identifies patients’ previously reported contraindications.
• The registry provides definitive information, reminders and recalls on immunizations that are due or overdue.
• The registry produces the legal immunization record (DH Form 680) required for school, camp, and day care center attendance.
• It allows providers to create a system-certified electronic 680, which is kept in Florida SHOTS where it is accessible directly to schools, licensed child-care centers and other medical providers that are Florida SHOTS users.
• It generates immunization reports for managed-care organizations.
• The registry reduces paperwork by automating inventory, reporting, recall and reminder functions.
• It provides current recommendations and information on new vaccines.
• The registry facilitates introduction of new vaccines or changes in the vaccine schedule.

When a child has had chicken pox and no longer needs the Varicella vaccine a contraindication must be added to the vaccine record. This must be done correctly or the child will still show up as due for the vaccine.

On the Contraindications screen, select the series, VZV. Then the drop down menu for Vaccine Type will include: “MMRV,” “VZV,” and “All Vaccines.” It is important to select “All Vaccines” instead of just “VZV,” otherwise Florida SHOTS will show that a child could receive a dose of Varicella vaccine by administering MMRV. While MMRV is no longer offered, it is included in the Florida SHOTS database for historical vaccine records. Contraindication Type selected should be “VZV1 Other Perm (VZV).”