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Improving Immunization Practices
A collection of useful resources to help health care professionals
provide vaccines appropriately and efficiently

    

Storage    Screening    Rules    Administration    Risks/benefits    Recordkeeping    Rates    Resources   CDC IZ schedules
      
Storage and handling of vaccines

Storage and handling journal articles
 

  Adults Only Vaccination: A Step-by-Step Guide (IAC, 2004). Adults Only Vaccination: A Step-by-Step Guide (IAC, 2004). The 157-page guide presents a comprehensive description of all aspects of an adult vaccination program -- from assessing vaccine indications and contraindications to determining billing codes.

V2010 Videotape: How to Protect Your Vaccine Supply (CDC, 25min). This VHS videotape is an introduction to basic procedures for proper vaccine storage and handling. Click here to order online from IAC. This VHS videotape is currently unavailable.

C2012 CD: Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit This CDROM is an introduction to basic procedures for proper vaccine storage and handling. Click here to order online from IAC. (One copy available free from CDC by going to www2.cdc.gov/nchstp_od/PIWeb/niporderform.asp)

Don't Be Guilty of These Errors in Vaccine Storage and Handling
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3036.htm
  Vaccines and Related Products Distributed in the United States
This resource includes manufacturers' websites and phone numbers. The manufacturer is a good source of information if you feel a supply of vaccine may have been incorrectly stored or handled. Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/2019prod.htm
  Vaccine Management: Recommendations for Handling and Storage of Selected Biologicals
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/vac_mgt_book.pdf
  Checklist for Safe Vaccine Handling and Storage
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3035chk.htm
  Protect your Vaccines: Check Temperatures Twice a Day
Source: Adapted from the Michigan Department of Community Health by the Immunization Action Coalition
This monthly log sheet makes it harder not to notice when a recorded temperature is out of range. Instead of writing in the temperature on a blank line next to the date and time in an ongoing diary-style log, the recorder locates the temperature in a vertical column of possible temperatures and marks an "X" on that date. If the "X" lands in a gray-shaded block of horizontal temperature cells, that means the temperature is out of range.
Fahrenheit log: www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3039.pdf
Celsius log: www.immunize.org/news.d/celsius.pdf
  "Do Not Unplug" warning sign for refrigerators
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/appendices/C/warning-signs.pdf
  Clinics' Vaccines Feared Useless
Source: Austin American Statesman, August 13, 2002, reprinted by the National Network for Immunization Information
Click here for news item
  Children to Be Reimmunized
Source: Salt Lake City Desert News, June 6, 2002, reprinted by the National Network for Immunization Information
Click here for news item
    
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Screening for contraindications/precautions and needed vaccines
Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
A short list of questions to help the provider uncover any contraindications to vaccination. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hmong and Turkish.
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4060scr.htm
  Screening Questionnaire for Adult Immunization
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
A short list of questions to help the provider uncover any contraindications to vaccination. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hmong and Turkish.
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4065scr.htm
  Guide to Contraindications to Vaccinations
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/contraindications.htm

www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/contraindications_guide.pdf
  Do I Need Any Vaccinations Today?
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
A checklist for adult patients to complete to help determine if they need any vaccinations.
www.immunize.org/catg.d/4036need.htm
  Screening Questionnaire for Injectable Influenza Vaccination
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4066.pdf
  Screening Questionnaire for Intranasal Influenza Vaccination”
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4067.pdf
  Should you be vaccinated against hepatitis A? A screening questionnaire for adults
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/2190hepa.pdf
  Should you be vaccinated against hepatitis B? A screening questionnaire for adults
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/2191hepb.pdf
  Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
A table showing the contents of every vaccine that can be checked when a patient has an allergy to a possible component.
www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf
  Vaccine Adverse Event Report System (VAERS)
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national vaccine safety surveillance program co-sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. VAERS collects and analyzes information from reports of adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after the administration of US licensed vaccines. Reports are welcome from all concerned individuals: patients, parents, health care providers, pharmacists and vaccine manufacturers.
www.fda.gov/cber/vaers/vaers.htm
    
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Rules and recommendations
Recommended Immunizations for Adults with Medical Conditions, United States
Source: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.pdf
  General Recommendations on Immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Source: MMWR, February 8, 2002, Vol. 51(RR-2)
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5102a1.htm
  Recommended and Minimum Ages and Intervals between Vaccine Doses
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/appendices/A/Age%20Interval%20Table.pdf
  Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2011b.pdf
  Summary of Rules of Childhood Immunization
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/rules1.pdf
  Guidelines for Quality Standards for Immunization
Source: Infectious Diseases Society of America
www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v35n5/020679/020679.html
  Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Statements
www.immunize.org/acip
  Immunization Policy Statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics
www.immunize.org/aap
  Vaccine Position Papers from WHO
www.immunize.org/who
        
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Vaccine administration journal articles

 
Vaccine administration
How to Administer IM (Intramuscular) Injections
How to Administer SC (Subcutaneous) Injections
Source: Adapted from the Minnesota Department of Health by the Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2020.pdf
  Sample Standing Orders
www.immunize.org/standingorders
  After the shots... what to do if your child has discomfort
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n17/p4015.htm
Also available in multiple translations from the same link.
  How to Give IM and SC Injections to Adults
Source: Adapted from the Minnesota Department of Health by the Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2020A.pdf
  Administering Vaccines to Adults: Dose, Route, Site, Needle Size, and Preparation
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3084.pdf
  Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3085.pdf
  Check Your Vials: Is it Tdap, DTaP, or Td?
Source: California Department of Health Services, Immunization Branch
www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/izgroup/pdf/IMM-508.pdf
  Immunization Techniques: Safe, Effective, Caring
Source: California Department of Health Services, Immunization Branch, 2001
A 35-minute refresher course on the correct techniques for administering vaccines. Comes with accompanying print material. Cost is $10.50 each. Order online at www.immunize.org/shop/toolkit_iztechdvd.asp or print an order form to fax or mail at: www.immunize.org/shop/views/orderform.pdf
  Giving All the Doses: One way to give 5 doses at one visit
Courtesy of the Michigan Department of Community Health
www.immunize.org/izpractices/mich1.jpg
  Giving All the Doses: One way to give 7 does (if needed) at one visit
Courtesy of the Michigan Department of Community Health
www.immunize.org/izpractices/mich2.jpg
  Comforting Restraint for Immunization
Source: California Department of Health Services, Immunization Branch
A poster that depicts the proper way for a parent to hold a child during immunizations.
English: www.immunize.org/news.d/comfrten.pdf
Spanish: www.immunize.org/news.d/comfrtsp.pdf
To order the "Comforting Restraint" posters online or to print an order form to send in by mail or fax, go to: www.cdlhn.com
     
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Risks/benefits journal articles
Explaining the risks/benefits of vaccines
Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)
Download VISs in English and over 30 translations at www.immunize.org/vis
  Photos related to vaccine-preventable diseases
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.vaccineinformation.org/photos
  Videos related to vaccine-preventable diseases
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.vaccineinformation.org/videos
  Communicating the risks and benefits of vaccines (web page)
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/concerns/riskbenefit.htm
  It's Federal Law!! You Must Give Your Patients Current Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)
Source: Neal A. Halsey, MD, Director, Institute for Vaccine Safety
A summary of how and why VISs must be used.
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2027.pdf
  CDC's Instructions for the Use of Vaccine Information Statements (one sheet) (updated 1/15/03).
Web version: www.immunize.org/vis/instr2.htm
Camera-ready (PDF) version: www.immunize.org/vis/instr2.pdf
  The Truth about Using VISs
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
A "Q & A" for providers separating the truth and myths of VIS use.
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2028.htm
     
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Recordkeeping journal articles
 
Recordkeeping
  Vaccine Administration Record for Adults
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2023b.htm
  Vaccine Administration Record for Children and Teens
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2022b.htm
  Immunization Record Cards
All cards, adult, child and teen, and lifetime, are
printed on rip-proof, smudge-proof, water-proof paper–designed to last a lifetime! Purchasing information and an online order form can be found at: www.immunize.org/recordcards
  AAP Refusal to Vaccinate Form
Source: AAP
www.cispimmunize.org/pro/pdf/RefusaltoVaccinate2.doc
Vaccines and Biologics Used in U.S. and Foreign Markets
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
This table can help providers interpret vaccination records from other countries.
www.immunize.org/izpractices/p5120.pdf
  Translation of Foreign Vaccine-Related Terms Into English
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
This table can help providers interpret vaccination records from other countries.
www.immunize.org/izpractices/p5121.pdf
  Quick Chart of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Terms in Multiple Languages
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
This 2-page table displays most of the vaccine-preventable disease terms in 16 languages.
www.immunize.org/izpractices/p5122.pdf
     
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Improving rates journal articles

 
Assessing and improving vaccination rates
  Sample Standing Orders
www.immunize.org/standingorders
Reminder Systems
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Includes links to information about registries, increasing adult immunization rates, strategies for reminding patients, studies on the effectiveness of strategies, and more.
www.cdc.gov/nip/home-hcp.htm#Reminder
  AFIX--Assessment, Feedback, Incentives, eXchange
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
AFIX is a quality improvement strategy to raise immunization coverage levels and improve standards of practices at the provider level.
www.cdc.gov/nip/afix
  Clinic Assessment Software Application (CASA)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CASA is a tool for assessing immunization practices within a clinic, private practice, or any other environment where immunizations are provided. Besides the analysis components of CASA, there are also reminder and recall tracking capabilities. CASA is public domain software and can be used without cost.
www.cdc.gov/nip/casa/Default.htm
  Immunization Strategies for Health Care Practices and Providers
Source: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 7th edition, 2002 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/strat.pdf
  Tips to Improve Your Clinic's Immunization Rates
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2045.htm
       
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Miscellaneous resources
Immunization Resource Directory
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org/resources
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Recommendations and information on vaccine-preventable diseases and many more public health topics. To sign up for free electronic delivery, go to CDC's website at: www.cdc.gov/mmwr or visit: www.cdc.gov/subscribe.html To subscribe to a print edition ($109 yearly subscription fee), call the Massachusetts Medical Society at (800) 843-6356.
  Vaccines for Children Program
The Vaccines for Children, or VFC, program buys vaccines for children in certain groups who can't afford to buy vaccines. Providers can get these vaccines for their patients who qualify by joining the VFC program in their state.
www.cdc.gov/nip/vfc/Default.htm
  Education & Training for Immunization Providers
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Includes links to CDC's satellite broadcast schedule, self-study materials, on-site training information, and course materials and slides.
www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/default.htm
  Sample Standing Orders Policy for Provision of Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccines
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
www.cms.hhs.gov/preventiveservices/2m.pdf
  TIDE (Teaching Immunization Delivery and Evaluation)
A free, online interactive educational program offered by CDC and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
www.musc.edu/tide
  Broadcast Resources and Updates
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Scripts and PowerPoint presentations for each segment of National Immunization Program satellite broadcasts
www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/UpdatesandResources.htm
  Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8th edition, 2004
Great resource book updated yearly on vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. Cost is $29 plus shipping and handling. To order online, go to: http://bookstore.phf.org/prod171.htm or call (877) 252-1200 or (800) 418-7246 (800-41-TRAIN) between 9 am and 5 pm ET. Or download the PDF text at: www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/default.htm
  CDC-INFO Contact Center. Call this 24 hours/7 days a week, toll-free number to request information on immunization. The number is 800-232-4636 (800-CDC-INFO). This is an integrated CDC hotline service. Callers to this number are given several options, one of which is immunization. This line will accommodate English and Spanish.
  CDC's Hepatitis Information Line. Call this number to listen to messages about various types of hepatitis or to order information by fax. Information is available in both English and Spanish. Call (888) 443-7232 (888 4-HEP-CDC).

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This page was updated on December 20, 2007

Immunization Action Coalition1573 Selby AvenueSt. Paul MN 55104
E-mail: admin@immunize.org Web: http://www.immunize.org/
Tel: (651) 647-9009Fax: (651) 647-9131