Frequently Asked Questions

Here are our most frequently asked questions. If you don't find an answer to your question here, please email us at admin@immunize.org

If you are a health professional with a technical question about vaccines or immunization, please email CDC's immunization experts at nipinfo@cdc.gov

A. Go to www.immunize.org/printmaterials

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Q. How can I quickly find the most recently developed or revised IAC educational materials?

A. Go to www.immunize.org/new All new or updated materials on the website (including VISs) are listed with the most recent items first. To be notified whenever a piece is developed or updated, please subscribe to our free weekly electronic news service, IAC Express. To sign up, go to www.immunize.org/subscribe

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Q. How can I get a copy of one of your newsletters?

A. IAC publishes three newsletters:

Needle Tips is a semiannual publication written for health professionals who provide immunization services to children or adults. You can download the most recent copy and back issues at www.immunize.org/nt

Vaccinate Adults is a semiannual publication written for health professionals who provide immunization services to adults. You can download the most recent copy and back issues at www.immunize.org/va

Vaccinate Women is an annual publication written for obstetricians/gynecologists. You can download the most recent copy and back issues at www.immunize.org/vw

If you wish to get on the IAC mailing list for a print copy of one of these newsletters, please go to www.immunize.org/subscribe

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Q. I need a Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) in one of the 6,912 known living languages. Please help me!
  
A. All available VISs in English and translations are available at www.immunize.org/vis Currently, we have 33 languages available in print and a few in alternative formats, such as audio.

Available VIS translations include

Most of the translated VISs have been provided to us, gratis, to share on our website. IAC is a small, nonprofit organization, and we have limited funding available for translations. If you have a need for a particular language that is not available, consider having it translated yourself and then sharing it with the world via this website!

Please note that unique VISs do not exist for certain combination vaccines (e.g., Comvax, Pediarix), so in instances like these you should provide a VIS for each vaccine component. Also, a VIS is not released for a new vaccine until after the ACIP has voted on recommendations for its use.

To be notified whenever CDC releases a new VIS, or whenever a new translation becomes available, please subscribe to our free weekly electronic news service, IAC Express. please go to www.immunize.org/subscribe

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Q. I'm having trouble locating one of my favorite IAC print pieces.
  
A. There are many resources available on our website and it can be hard to quickly find what you want! Here are some hints:

1. All our print pieces are available in the web section titled "Free Print Materials" at www.immunize.org/printmaterials If you're having trouble finding the piece by scrolling, try hitting "Ctrl," then the letter "f" on your keyboard and key in one word of the title or the item number. You should find all matches.
2. You can also use the "Search" box on the home page.
3. If you don't have any luck with the IAC search engine, go to www.google.com and type in part of the title.
4. Call or email us for help! Telephone: (651) 647-9009, email: admin@immunize.org
5. Once you find your favorite pieces, bookmark them as one of your "favorites." When we update any piece, we are careful to always keep the URL the same, so by saving the address of a piece, you will always be directed to the most recent edition.

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Q. I'm a healthcare worker with a question about my hepatitis B vaccination.
Spacing of doses, length of immunity, serologic testing after vaccination, titer results, non-response, chronic infection, postexposure prophylaxis, etc.
  
A. You will probably find the answer to your question in IAC's print piece Hepatitis B and the Healthcare Worker.

Additional questions and answers can be found in our "Ask the Experts" hepatitis B section at www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2021b.htm

Still confused? Email CDC's experts at nipinfo@cdc.gov

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Q. Do patients need to sign consents before receiving vaccines? If so, where can I get consent forms?
  
A. Usually not. Federal law mandates the recording of certain information about each vaccination (e.g., manufacturer, lot number), and the provision of the appropriate Vaccine Information Statement(s); but there is no federal law requiring a parent/patient signature. However, providers should check with their state immunization program to determine whether additional requirements exist under state law. For phone numbers, go to: www.immunize.org/coordinators

IAC offers vaccine administration chart records that include space for all federally required information.

Vaccine Administration Record for Children and Teens
Vaccine Administration Record for Adults

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Q. Where can I get standing orders for all vaccines?
  
A. IAC has developed a number of sample standing orders that can be accessed at www.immunize.org/standingorders

All these documents and more are also found on our "Free Print Materials" web section at www.immunize.org/printmaterials

For additional standing orders, you might check with your state immunization coordinator or professional association.

To be notified whenever IAC develops a new resource (including possible additional standing orders), please subscribe to our free weekly electronic news service, IAC Express. To sign up, send an email to express@immunize.org with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

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Q. I have a patient from one of the approximately 192 countries outside of the U.S. He/she has an immunization record, but I can't read it.
 
A. IAC offers three resources developed by the Minnesota Department of Health that might help.

Vaccines and Biologicals Used in U.S. and Foreign Markets
Translation of Vaccine-Related Terms into English
Quick Chart of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Terms in Multiple Languages

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Q. Where can I get educational videos to show to parents?
  
A. IAC has collected 250 photographs and almost 100 video clips related to vaccine-preventable diseases and made them available online.

Photograph collection: www.vaccineinformation.org/photos
Video collection: www.vaccineinformation.org/videos

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has developed two excellent videos for parents. These can be viewed online in segments.

Vaccines: Separating Fact from Fear
Vaccines and Your Baby

Both videos are also available in Spanish. These videos can be purchased from VEC at a nominal cost; ordering information can be found on the pages listed above.

Information about additional immunization videos can be accessed at www.immunize.org/resources/res_videos.asp

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Q. I need to give a presentation about immunization. Help!
 
A. IAC has collected a number of PowerPoint presentations about immunization issues and vaccine-preventable diseases. Some of these are targeted toward healthcare professionals and others are intended for the general public. All of the featured presentations are in the public domain, although we recommend you give credit to the source when using the material. You may wish to mix and match the information from several presentations to meet your need. Go to: www.immunize.org/presentations

In addition, you may want to use photographs or video clips from IAC's collections. Please note that not all of these are in the public domain. Photographs or videos accompanied by text that reads "Courtesy of . . . " may be used without further permission. Please credit the appropriate source. Photographs or videos accompanied by text that reads "Copyright . . ." may not be reprinted without permission. Please contact the source (not IAC) for permission to reprint copyrighted material.

Photograph collection: www.vaccineinformation.org/photos
Video collection: www.vaccineinformation.org/videos

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Q. I am confused about some aspect of vaccine storage, handling, or administration. Where can I find answers?
  
A. There are several resources available.

Immunization Techniques: Safe, Effective, Caring is available for purchase in DVD disk format. Developed by the California Department of Health Services Immunization Branch in collaboration with a team of national experts, this 35-minute video teaches best practices about how to administer intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) vaccines to infants, children, and adults. It is designed for use as a "hands-on" instructional program for new staff as well as a refresher course for experienced health professionals.

Vaccine Storage and Handling Training Materials The Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit CD-ROM, created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provides you with everything you want to know about vaccine storage and handling in one CD with the following features:

• 22 min. 55 sec. run-time
• Guidelines for vaccine storage and handling
• Video: "How to Protect Your Vaccine Supply"
• Video: "Top 10 Storage and Handling Errors"
• Interactive game and resources including forms, checklists, posters, and contact information

Resources from many organizations about vaccine handling, storage, and administration can be accessed at www.immunize.org/izpractices Related IAC print pieces can be found in the staff materials section of our "Free Print Materials" web section at www.immunize.org/printmaterials