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What is a Vaccine Information Statement?
- A Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) is a one-page (two-sided) information sheet,
produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), informing vaccine
recipients � or their parents or legal representatives � of the benefits and
risks of a vaccine. The law requires them to be given out whenever certain
vaccinations are given.
Who must give out a VIS?
- All providers of vaccines, both public and private sector.
Why must a VIS be used?
- It is a requirement of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.
Their purpose is to inform parents and people getting vaccinated themselves about
the benefits and risks of vaccines.
When must a VIS be given out?
- They must be given out at the time of each vaccination � prior to administration
of the vaccine.
What VISs must be used?
- A VIS must be provided for any vaccine that is covered by the Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program (i.e., appears on the Vaccine Injury Table). As of September
2001, VISs that must be used are: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) ;
diphtheria, tetanus (Td); measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); polio (IPV); hepatitis B;
haemophilus influenza type b (Hib); varicella; and pneumococcal conjugate. Other
VISs that are available are influenza, hepatitis A, pneumococcal polysaccharide,
meningococcal, lyme disease, and anthrax. Their use is not required by the National
Childhood Injury Act, but is strongly encouraged � and they must be used when
giving vaccines purchased through a CDC contract.
How to get a VIS?
- The Internet. All current VISs are available on the internet at three web
sites � the National Immunization Program (http://www.cdc.gov/nip),
the Immunization Action Coalition (http://www.immunize.org),
and the Minnesota Health Department (http://www.health.state.mn.us).
- State Health Department. CDC sends each state health department�s
immunization program camera-ready copies when a new VIS is published. The
immunization program in turn provides copies to providers within the state.
- National Immunization Information Hotline. Call (800) 232-2522 (English) or
(800) 232-0233 (Spanish).
- CDC's "Fax-Back" System. Anyone wanting a single copy of a VIS
can get it through the CDC Fax-Back System. Call 1-888-232-3299 (1-888-CDC-FAXX)
and, when prompted, enter document number 600502. An NIP
�Resource Request List� will be faxed to you, from which you can order a VIS, as
well as other NIP documents.
Translations
- VISs have been translated into a number of languages by the California, Minnesota,
Indiana, and Massachusetts immunization programs. Availability of VISs in languages
other than English is evolving, but they are currently available in at least these
languages:
Arabic
Armenian
Cambodian
Chinese
Croatian
Farsi
French
German
Haitian |
Creole
Hmong
Japanese
Korean
Laotian
Portugese
Punjabi
Romanian
Russian |
Samoan
Serbo-Croatian
Somali
Spanish
Tagalog
Thai
Turkish
Vietnamese |
- Translations can currently be found on two web sites: the Minnesota Health
Department (http://www.health.state.mn.us.divs/dpc/adps/translte/htm)
and the Immunization Action Coalition (http://www.immunize.org).
- A set of 7 videotapes of VISs (MMR, DTP, Polio, hepatitis B, Hib, varicella, and
pneumococcal conjugate) is available in Spanish from the University of Michigan.
Tapes run approximately 5-9 minutes each, and a set costs $25. For information, call
(517) 353-2596.
CDC, National Immunization Program: http://www.cdc.gov/nip
Last updated: September 2001
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