Automatic Identification of Vaccine Projects

Background

The Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Automated Identification of Vaccine Projects (AIVP) initiative was established in 2002 to improve the safe use of vaccines as well as the accuracy and completeness of immunization record keeping by incorporating standardized bar codes onto vaccine product labeling. To examine this issue, PHAC established the AIVP Advisory Task Group, a collaborative effort between all stakeholder groups in the area of immunization, which is co-chaired by PHAC and the vaccine industry – including key representation from GS1 Canada. In 2009, the AIVP Advisory Task Group reached consensus on the use of GS1 standards for the identification of vaccine products in Canada.

Vaccine Identification Endorsed

Collaboration between PHAC, vaccine manufacturers, stakeholders and GS1 Canada on the AIVP initiative has resulted in a collective endorsement of a Consensus Statement on the use of GS1 DataBarTM or GS1 DataMatrix (2D) bar codes on the inner package of vaccine products as a national standard for vaccine identification in Canada.

Read the press release.