Issue Number 85
May 28, 1999
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- June 1 is a VERY IMPORTANT DATE for
VISs (Vaccine Information Statements)!
- Download the new influenza VIS for
1999-2000 from IAC's website
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(1)
May 28, 1999
JUNE 1 IS A VERY IMPORTANT DATE FOR VISs (VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS)!
June 1, 1999, is the date by which health professionals must be using the most current
Vaccine Information Statements (VISs). Please read this article and make sure you
are using the most current versions of the VISs which are the federal government's
information sheets that you must give to parents, guardians, and/or your adult patients
before administering certain vaccines.
Federal law states that you must give parents, guardians, and/or your adult patients the
appropriate VISs before you administer any of the following vaccines:
hepatitis B
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
varicella (chickenpox)
measles
mumps
rubella
diphtheria
tetanus
pertussis
polio
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE MOST CURRENT VISs?
You can tell by the date that is printed at the bottom of the VIS. If you are using VISs
that carry dates that are different from the ones listed below, you need to take those
VISs out of circulation and use the most current ones.
A SPECIAL NOTE ON THE ROTAVIRUS VIS
The rotavirus VIS was recently revised. If you are using the version dated 12-1-98 (the
one that was printed in the spring/summer edition of NEEDLE TIPS) it is not the most
current version. Make sure your rotavirus VIS has the date 3-23-99.
WHAT ARE THE MOST CURRENT VISs?
By June 1, 1999, make sure you are using the VISs with these dates (the dates are printed
in one of the lower corners of the back page of each VIS):
Polio: 2-1-99
Varicella (chickenpox): 12-16-98
Hib: 12-16-98
Hepatitis B: 12-16-98
Measles, mumps, and rubella: 12-16-98
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis: 8-15-97
Td: 6-10-94
While it is federal law that you hand out the aforementioned VISs, CDC recommends that you
also use the following VISs (even though it is not federal law):
Pneumococcal: 7-29-97
Rotavirus: 3-23-99
Hepatitis A: 8-25-98
Influenza - brand new VIS!: 6-1-99
HERE'S HOW TO GET THE NEWEST VISs OFF THE WEB
If you discover that you don't have the latest VISs, you can view and/or download the ones
you need from IAC's website. Click here: http://www.immunize.org/vis/index.htm
and you will "arrive" at IAC's "VIS Table of Contents" where you can
click on the VISs you need to download.
DO YOU NEED VISs IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH?
From the IAC's "VIS Table of Contents" you can also download VISs in Spanish
(thanks to the California Department of Health Services, Immunization Branch). You can
also click on the Minnesota Department of Health's website from the IAC's "VIS Table
of Contents" where you will find VISs in Spanish, Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese,
Laotian, Russian, and Somali.
DO YOU NEED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO USE THE VISs?
A copy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's instructions on how to use the
VISs is on IAC's website at http://www.immunize.org/vis/instr99.htm
CAN'T ACCESS CAMERA-READY COPIES FROM THE WEB?
If you can't download the current versions of the VISs off of IAC's website, you should
call the immunization program of your state or local health department. Click here for a
listingof names and telephone numbers of state health departments: http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n18/coord18.htm
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(2)
May 28, 1999
DOWNLOAD THE NEW INFLUENZA VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT (VIS) FOR 1999-2000 FROM IAC'S
WEBSITE
Get a jump start on the next influenza season by downloading the new VIS on influenza
vaccine for 1999-2000 from IAC's website right now. For a camera-ready copy click here: http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.pdf
If you aren't able to download this VIS from your computer, wait a month or so and then
call your state health department. CDC is currently distributing copies of this new VIS to
states so it will probably take your state some time to get copies printed and ready for
distribution statewide. If you need your state program manager's name and/or phone number,
click here: http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n18/coord18.htm |
