**Foreword**

The 2003 Immunization Program Operations Manual (IPOM) was developed as
a compilation of resources to assist immunization program managers and
their staff in implementing comprehensive immunization programs.
Grantees were instructed to use the IPOM in conjunction with the annual
grant guidance document to develop objectives, activities, and
evaluation measures that maximize immunization program effectiveness.

The 2008-2012 IPOM builds upon the 2003 version. However, the 2008-2012
IPOM is intended to be used as a core companion document to the 2008
Program Announcement that covers the five year immunization grant cycle
from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012.

The layout and format of the 2008-2012 IPOM differ significantly from
the 2003 IPOM, as summarized:

In the 2003 IPOM:

The Introduction is brief.

There is a Table of Contents and an Index, and page numbering continues
from one chapter into the next.

Chapter titles are based on 8 identified immunization program
components:

1\. Program Management

2\. Vaccine Management

3\. Immunization Registries

4\. Provider Quality Assurance

5\. Service Delivery

6\. Consumer Information

7\. Surveillance

8\. Population Assessment

Each chapter begins with keywords.

Within each chapter, general activity areas are stated in bold print.
Supporting activities are listed under each bolded activity area, but
there is no sub-prioritization of activities.

Activities are coded with

check marks for high priority; pointer fingers for requirements by
statute; and stars for association with raising immunization coverage.

There are appendices and attachments.

No updates were made once the IPOM was printed.

In the 2008-2012 IPOM:\
The Introduction is replaced by a new introductory chapter called "The
Basics" which is an expanded compilation of core overview documents for
everyday reference by program management staff. Most documents within
"The Basics" have been sent in the past to program managers via email,
but there are some new documents as well. We included "The Basics"
chapter to ensure that all program managers have easy access to all
these core documents. The printed documents within "The Basics" are
those that are not available online (except via the IPOM website);
documents that are available online are included in the "Key
Immunization Websites" document. Additional documents may be added to
"The Basics" in the future.

The Table of Contents and Index are replaced by a summary "At A Glance"
document. We anticipate making occasional updates over time; for
grantees' ease of inserting an updated chapter into their hard copies of
the IPOM, each chapter starts over at page 1.

Chapter titles are based on the 10 program components in the 2008
program announcement, including separate components for perinatal
hepatitis B, adolescent immunization, and adult immunization. The
WIC-Immunization Linkage is not listed as a program requirement in the
2008 program announcement; however, the 2008-2012 IPOM includes a
separate chapter (#11) on the WIC-immunization linkage as a
recommendation.

1\. Program Planning and Evaluation

2\. Vaccine Accountability and Management

3\. Immunization Information Systems

4\. Provider Quality Assurance

5\. Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention

6\. Adolescent Immunization

7\. Adult Immunization

8\. Education, Information, Training, and Partnerships

9\. Epidemiology and Surveillance

10\. Population Assessment

11\. WIC-Immunization Linkage

Because program management activities are determined by and are at the
discretion of program management staff, the Program Management chapter
has been replaced by the Program Planning and Evaluation chapter. The
Vaccine Management chapter is based on the 2007 Vaccines for Children
(VFC) Program Operations Guide but has been restructured to match the
format of the IPOM. In addition, the Program Operations Branch (POB)
recognizes that due to the overwhelming success of the VFC program,
service delivery has shifted primarily to the private sector; therefore,
the Service Delivery program component has been eliminated from both the
2008 program announcement and the 2008-2012 IPOM. Consumer Information
has been renamed as Education, Information, Training, and Partnerships;
and Surveillance has been renamed as Epidemiology and Surveillance.

Keywords are eliminated from the chapters but are shared with our
webmaster for posting to search engines.

Within each chapter, the sentences in bold print are the program
requirements included in the 2008 program announcement. The program
requirements were the outcome of a strategic planning process during
2006 between Immunization Services Division (ISD) leadership, ISD
subject matter experts, and the Association of Immunization Managers
(AIM). ISD and POB recognize that each year grantees are asked to
implement additional vaccines with fewer resources. It is unrealistic to
expect grantees to be able to implement all the activities that were
included in the 2003 IPOM. Therefore, under each bolded program
requirement are supporting activities that are sub-prioritized as either
required or recommended according to CDC priorities. The purpose of this
new format is to ensure that grantees' use of limited 317 and VFC FA
operations funds is directed toward implementing activities of highest
priority to CDC.

Because activities are categorized under each program requirement as
either required or recommended, the coding is eliminated.

The appendices are eliminated. The reference list within each chapter is
expanded, and attachments are included within the specific chapters,
where applicable.

Updates to chapters will occur as needed. CDC will notify grantees by
email when a chapter has been updated. The most current chapters are
available online at
<http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/policies/ipom/>.

A key similarity between the 2003 IPOM and the 2008-2012 IPOM in the
layout of each chapter is the existence of an overview and reference
list. In addition, some supporting activities include performance
measures, which are measures of the degree of success in achieving
planned program activities.

Although the 2008-2012 IPOM is intended to be comprehensive, it is not
an all-inclusive guide to immunization program content. The editors and
contributors depend upon the grantees' feedback to improve, update, and
expand upon the content and format in future editions. Grantees are
encouraged to send their comments on the 2008-2012 IPOM to their project
officers.

Lance Rodewald, M.D., Director

Immunization Services Division

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention