With the issuance in 1997 of a presidential directive to develop a nationwide system of registries, the National Vaccine Advisory Committe(NVAC) work group on immunization registries was formed. This workgroup was charged with developing a plan of action with NIP/CDC to submit to Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala.

Dr. Alan Hinman, senior consultant to All Kids Count, was key author of the resulting 1999 Report of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee on Development of Community- and State-based Immunization Registries. Approved in January 1999, the report issued recommendations to ensure that goals for immunization registries would be  achieved. It recognizes registries as an important tool for achieving immunization coverage rate goals, and established as a goal "a nationwide network of community/state population-based registries that are  capable of sharing information while maintaining privacy and confidentiality."

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