Overview

As demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States’ existing public health data infrastructure has critical limitations. Vital records data are foundational for understanding public health, yet limitations affect the quality of information available. Vital records document milestone life events – most notably through birth and death certificates – and provide official documentation of identity, relationships, and ownership rights. The data they provide enable insights into birth and mortality trends that can be used by decision-makers and health officials across the country to improve public health. 

While vital records are part of a system of robust government public health data, the ability to connect, analyze, and disseminate these records is currently too limited – resulting in key system inefficiencies. Coordinated and intentional improvements to the system are needed to create and then sustain a modern vital records system that supports effective responses to future national crises and enables the use of this important administrative data asset – whether responding to a pandemic, an extreme weather event, a further surge in drug overdose deaths, or other unforeseen needs. 

In this webinar, the report authors and other data experts will discuss the state of the vital records system, the potential insights and efficiencies of a modern system, and highlight recommendations to achieve a vision for a more modern, digital vital records system that builds on recent improvements while continuing to prepare the country for future information needs.

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