Immunization Program
The purpose of the IAP Program is to raise the immunization rates of children in Connecticut.
Our Commitment
Southwestern AHEC is home to the CT Department of Public Health’s Immunization Action Plan (IAP) Program for the cities of Bridgeport, Stamford, and Greenwich. The purpose of the IAP Program is to raise the immunization rates of children in Connecticut. We work to raise immunization rates by conducting outreach to families, conducting assessments with providers to improve vaccine delivery, and providing education to our communities, members, and partners.
As parents, our team understands the importance of immunizations for all ages, especially infants and children. Because all school-aged children are required by law to be up-to-date with their immunizations before they enter school, this program focuses on vulnerable preschool children who can be a source of spread.
We utilize a secure web-based system, called CT WiZ (Connecticut’s Immunization Information System) to maintain complete, accurate, and secure immunization records for patients vaccinated in Connecticut. All personal information including immunization status and dates of immunization of individuals is confidential as required by Connecticut law.
All doctors and health care providers in Connecticut who vaccinate children under 19 years of age participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP) and can give your child the vaccines he or she needs. These providers vaccinate children without charging patients for the cost of the vaccine (healthcare providers may still charge an administration fee). Without this program, some insurance companies may not cover the full cost of the vaccine, making it too expensive for some families. If you need help finding a healthcare provider for your child, call our team at (203) 372-5503 to find a CVP provider near you.
The service we provide include, but are not limited to:
- Conduct assessments in pediatric practices to improve vaccine delivery and ensure proper vaccine storage through ongoing monitoring and evaluations.
- Conduct outreach and tracking using the statewide immunization information system (IIS) known as “CT WiZ” to help locate and establish medical homes for children and families who may not have a primary care provider.
- Coordinate with regional partners to find and develop the best immunization promotion practices to help raise and maintain immunization rates.
- Review residents’ immunization needs and provides appropriate education and referral services to promote vaccination.
- Educating the public about the importance of vaccinations throughout a lifetime through community meetings, health fairs, schools, religious events, etc.
- Identify and distribute helpful immunizations and health promotion resources to communities to support the community's understanding of public health best practices.
- Provide technical and educational support to pediatric providers.
To access your or your child’s immunization record in the CT WiZ Public Portal*
*CT WiZ Public Portal allows individuals vaccinated in Connecticut to access their own immunization records, while parents and guardians can also access their child’s records.
