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Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are developed by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and provide a
standardized way to present basic information to patients about
vaccine benefits and possible adverse events. Before a healthcare
provider vaccinates a child or an adult with a dose of any vaccine
containing diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps,
rubella, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Hib, influenza,
pneumococcal conjugate, meningococcal ACWY, meningococcal B,
rotavirus, human papillomavirus, or varicella vaccine, the
provider is required by law (the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act) to provide a copy of the VIS to the patient (or the
parent/legal representative of the child) who is receiving the
vaccine. For other vaccines not covered under the law
(pneumococcal polysaccharide, zoster, and travel vaccines,
excluding hepatitis A), giving a patient a VIS is recommended, but
not required.
The VIS must be given to the patient before the dose of vaccine
is administered and must be offered before every dose of the
vaccine (i.e., not just the first dose). Usually a paper copy of
the VIS is given, but it is also acceptable to have the patient
read the VIS on an electronic device, such as computer screen,
smart phone, or tablet, or on a laminated copy during the office
visit, but the patient must also be offered a paper or an
electronic copy of the VIS to take home.
Federal law requires not only that the clinician provide a VIS
to the patient, but also that the date the VIS is given to the
patient and the VIS publication date are recorded in the patient's
chart. It is important to use the most recent version of a VIS.
VIS resources from IAC
The website of the Immunization Action Coalition has the
following resources related to VISs, all of which are available at
www.immunize.org/vis:
VIS resources from CDC
Want to be notified when new or updated VISs, or their
translations, are released? Sign up for IAC's free weekly email
news service, IAC Express. To subscribe, visit
www.immunize.org/subscribe. |
ACIP Recommendations
Vaccine Information Statements 
