Twenty Years of Progress and the Way Forward: Immunization Registry Information System in Korea

Abstract

The National Immunization Program in The Republic of Korea offers mandatory and free vaccinations to children under 12, regulated by the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. Tracking vaccination coverage is crucial for population protection and public health strategies. Since 2002, the Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS) has been used nationwide to capture vaccination data. This study reviewed documents related to IRIS’s establishment and development. The Republic of Korea legally supports IRIS's construction and data collection, integrating vaccination data with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's resident registration to minimize errors. This collaboration also facilitates cost reimbursement and digital registration, promoting wider vaccination coverage. IRIS manages expense claims once vaccination details are logged, and authorized medical institutions can access these records in real-time. Since 2015, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has been compiling annual data on national vaccination coverage. IRIS also sends automated reminders in 12 languages, reports adverse effects, and issues vaccination certificates. However, IRIS lacks integration between vaccine and disease registries, unlike countries such as England, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Improving integration capabilities could enhance IRIS's support for public health through an integrated information system.

Assessing the determinants of influenza and COVID-19 vaccine co-administration decisions in the elderly

“…As of December 2023, in Korea, 19 among the seniors aged 65 and older 0.6% received only the COVID-19 vaccine, 42.4% received only the influenza vaccine, 39.7% received both vaccines, and 10.1% received both vaccines simultaneously. 17.2% did not receive any vaccination as shown in Table 1 , extracted from the IRIS.…”

“…Participants were selected through proportional stratified random sampling. The number of participants in each group was determined to ensure the representativeness of the sample, considering the ratio of data from the Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS) 19 , including groups vaccinated with the influenza vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine, both vaccines, the co-administration group, and the unvaccinated group, totaling five groups. The survey period spanned from November 24th to December 15th, 2023.…”