When and to whom is it required to give Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)?

The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that a VIS must be given to parents, legal representatives, or adult patients before administering the vaccine. A VIS must be provided prior to each dose, not just the first dose. Providers should be sure they are using the most current version of each VIS. Current VISs and their dates are available from on the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/index.html and from Immunize.org’s website at www.immunize.org/vaccines/vis/about-vis/. Immunize.org offers translations of VISs in dozens of languages. If a translation of a current VIS is unavailable, a usable translation of an earlier English language version is posted when available. Translations should be provided in addition to, not in place of, the current federal VIS (in English).