August 2021

Updated Plan for Reconciliation of 2020 Annual NNDSS Data

Starting in late August 2021, a Data Management and Reporting (DMR) specialist from CDC’s NNDSS team will email each jurisdiction a reconciliation packet. Once a jurisdiction receives their reconciliation packet, a DMR specialist will guide the jurisdiction through the rest of the reconciliation process. The reconciliation packet will include:

• a letter with an overview of the changes to the reconciliation process for 2020 NNDSS data,
• a production calendar (timeline),
• a week-ending calendar for 2020 and 2021,
• an abbreviated event code list for 2020, and
• a copy of the jurisdiction’s reconciliation tables and instructions for reviewing the reconciliation tables.

The process to reconcile 2020 NNDSS data will be like previous years, with some exceptions. Jurisdictions will be able to view the processing of all case notification formats in MVPS and download a line list of cases for comparison as part of their reconciliation process. The State and Territorial Epidemiologist sign-off process will be done through email, as in previous years.

CDC will offer training about MVPS and the 2020 reconciliation procedures on the August 24, 3:00-4:00pm eSHARE call. The deadline for State and Territorial Epidemiologist approval of the final 2020 data is Friday, October 29, 2021.

Process for 2020 Final NNDSS COVID-19 Data

The 2020 final NNDSS COVID-19 data will not be reconciled; however, CDC will collect final 2020 NNDSS aggregate COVID-19 case counts.

• CDC will provide jurisdictions with an Excel spreadsheet containing instructions and information about the aggregate data needed for the 2020 NNDSS tables.
• Jurisdictions will submit their final aggregate case counts in an Epi Info web form. The Excel spreadsheet will provide jurisdictions with a preview of the data that will need to be entered into the Epi Info web form.
• State and Territorial Epidemiologists will “sign off” on the aggregate 2020 COVID-19 case counts within the Epi Info web form.
• CDC will use aggregate case counts in the 2020 NNDSS annual tables.

The tables will include confirmed, probable, and total cases of COVID-19 among U.S. residents, with stratifications by jurisdiction of residence, sex, age group, a combined race and ethnicity field, and month (based on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report weeks).

Jurisdictions should plan to send their final aggregate 2020 COVID-19 case counts to CDC by October 29, 2021, which is the same deadline for submitting final 2020 data for other NNDSS conditions.

CDC will hold two eSHARE webinars in August 2021.

August 10, 2021, 3:00 – 4:30 PM EDT

Mark your calendar for the next NNDSS eSHARE session, scheduled for Tuesday, August 10, 2021, from 3:00-4:30 PM EDT, which will highlight new features in MVPS. Users will be able to see and do more with their data, including data from National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance (NETSS) and NEDSS Base System Master Message transmissions.

August 24, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

Stay tuned for additional details on the Tuesday, August 24th session, scheduled from 3:00–4:00 PM EDT to kick-off annual reconciliation for the 2020 NNDSS data and NNDSS collection of final aggregate 2020 COVID-19 case counts.

To join a webinar, please see your Outlook invitation or contact the CDC Electronic Data Exchange mailbox at edx@cdc.gov for login information.