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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Vaccines & Immunizations

Publications:

Vaccine Information Statements

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that explain to vaccine recipients, their parents, or their legal representatives both the benefits and risks of a vaccine. Federal lawAdobe Acrobat print-friendly PDF file (exit) requires that VISs be handed out whenever (before each dose) certain vaccinations are given.

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Downloadable VISs

Multiple Vaccines (1/30/08)

Multiple Vaccines     (1/30/08)

This VIS may be used as an optional substitute for any or all of the routine birth-6 month vaccine VISs. (DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, Hepatitis B, and Rotavirus) See VIS News.

Anthrax VIS (4/23/03)

Anthrax     (4/24/03)

DTaP VIS (5/17/07)

Diphtheria/ Tetanus/Pertussis (DTaP)      (5/17/07)

Hepatitis A VIS (3/21/06)

Hepatitis A     (3/21/06)

Hepatitis B VIS(7/18/07)

Hepatitis B     (7/18/07)

Haemophilus Influenza type b (Hib) VIS (12/16/98)

Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib)     (12/16/98)

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) VIS (2/2/07)

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)     (2/2/07)

Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine VIS (7/24/08)

Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine    (7/24/08) NEW

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine VIS (7/24/08)

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine  (7/24/08) NEW

Japanese Encephalitis VIS (5/11/05)

Japanese Encephalitis   (5/11/05)

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) VIS (3/13/08)

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)     (3/13/08)

meningococcal VIS (1/28/08)

Meningococcal     (1/28/08)

Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV7) VIS (9/30/02)

Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV7)     (9/30/02)

Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPV23) VIS (7/29/97)

Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPV23)    (7/29/97)

Polio VIS (1/1/00)

Polio     (1/1/00)

Rabies VIS (1/12/06)

Rabies     (1/12/06)

Rotavirus VIS (4/12/06)

Rotavirus     (8/28/08)

Shingles VIS (9/11/06)

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)     (9/11/06)

Smallpox (Vaccina) VIS (11/15/03)

Smallpox (Vaccinia)    (11/15/03)

The smallpox VIS should be used in conjunction with a packet of 5 supplements (A-E). Use CDC's Smallpox Packet, which contains these documents

Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td) VIS (6/10/94)

Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td)    (6/10/94)

Tetanus/Diphtheria/ Pertussis VIS (Tdap) Interim (7/12/06)

Tetanus/Diphtheria/ Pertussis (Tdap) Interim     (7/12/06)

Typhoid VIS (5/19/04)

Typhoid    (5/19/04)

Varicella (Chickenpox) VIS (3/13/08)

Varicella (Chickenpox)     (3/13/08)

Yellow Fever (11/9/04)

Yellow Fever     (11/9/04)

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Download Instructions

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Important Info

  • For more information on VISs, including frequently-asked questions, see these
    VIS Facts
    .
  • All VISs on this page are current.
    A VIS with a date several years old is not necessarily out of date. VISs are not updated annually or on any other routine schedule. An updated VIS with a new date is posted when there is a change in recommendations.
  • New Hotline Number on VISs
    On March 15, 2005, the telephone number for the national immunization hotline changed. VISs posted on this webpage contain the new number in the "How can I learn more?" section.

    Please replace your camera-ready copies of VISs with these new versions before reprinting.

Note: You do not need to discard your existing VIS stocks; calls made to the old hotline number will be forwarded to the new number for several months. VIS dates have not changed. The new phone number is the only difference between the old VISs and the new ones.

Combination Vaccines:

If there is no VIS for a non-routine combination vaccine (e.g., Pediarix, Comvax, Twinrix), use the VISs for all component vaccines.

*Text-only Files:

Text-only versions are available for screen-reader devices.

**Audio VIS Files:

Most VISs are available on this page as wma audio files. These files must be played using Windows Media Player®, which can be downloaded from the Windows Media (exit) website. For a CD-ROM containing these audio files, please write to NIPINFO@cdc.gov.

***VISs in other languages:

Download these Vaccine Information Statements in over 20 languages through our partner, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) (exit).

Vaccine Information Statements
The National Childhood Vaccine Injury (NCVI) Act requires that all health-care providers give parents or patients copies of Vaccine Information Statements before administering each dose of the vaccines listed in the schedule. Additional information is available from state health departments.

Detailed recommendations for using vaccines are available from the manufacturers' package inserts, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) statements on specific vaccines, and the 2003 American Academy of Pediatrics Red Book. ACIP statements for all recommended childhood vaccines can be viewed, downloaded, and printed on this website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/ACIP-list.htm

Guidance on how to obtain and complete a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form is available at www.vaers.hhs.gov or by telephone, (800) 822-7967.

Note: All VIS files are in .pdf format. They may be downloaded, printed, and used to make copies. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download and install a copy from Adobe's website (exit).

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.pdf files: To view and print the .pdf files on this site, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use this link to obtain a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader (exit). We highly recommend that you upgrade to the latest version if haven't already.

This page last modified on September 10, 2008
Content last reviewed on February 13, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

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Vaccines and Immunizations