About the Bureau of Immunization

Charles H. Alexander Chief Bureau of Immunization

Mission:
Promote, protect, and improve the health
of all people in Florida.

Vision:
A healthier future for the people of Florida.

Values:
Excellence, Commitment to Service, Accountability, Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, Teamwork.

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There are four main sections of the bureau:

• Florida SHOTS (Immunization Registry)
• Vaccines For Children Program
• Field Operations
• Quality Improvement and Clinical Issues

Enhancing immunization services, decreasing 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.

Physicians who have joined Florida SHOTS, a free statewide, centralized online immunization registry, have the following services available to them:

• Immediate access to a child's immunization status
• Increased opportunities to immunize
• Computer-generated 680 forms
• Immunization tracking software that never has to be downloaded or upgraded on your computer
• Immunization forecasts and reminders/recalls
• Toll-free help line and free staff training

The Bureau promotes, monitors and provides technical assistance to facilitate the completion of childhood immunizations in accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This includes:

• Partnership with Children's Medical Services (CMS), the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to reach the most at-risk children;
• Management of the Florida SHOTS Immunization Registry/Tickler Systems;
• Provision of surveillance and outbreak control for vaccine-preventable diseases;
• Manage the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program;
• Manage 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; and,
• Educate and inform adults on the need for immunizations and how to access immunization services.

County health departments (CHD) are responsible for providing recommended or required immunizations to all children birth through 18 years of age and to certain adult clients. These immunizations are provided concurrently with other routine services or through immunization clinics conducted by the county health department or their contractors. County health department staff also follow 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. County health department staff is also responsible for vaccine-preventable disease outbreak reporting and control.

For questions, please contat the bureau. Please be aware that under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email: Immunization@doh.state.fl.us.
Phone: (850) 245-4342
Fax: (850) 922-4195
Mailing Address:
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-11
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1719
Delivery Address:
2585 Merchants Row Blvd.
Room 210
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1719