Frequently
Asked Questions
by Parents and Guardians
(NIS Teen)
What is the purpose of the survey?
Who uses this information?
How are telephone numbers selected?
Is there a letter that explains the purpose of the study?
What is the legal authorization for the study?
How is confidentiality of information assured?
What information
is available about immunizations
and about places that provide immunization shots?
What is the purpose of the survey?
Many adolescents are not receiving all of the recommended immunizations. By
monitoring and reporting on national immunization rates, the public health
agencies in your area will have the information necessary to help prevent
outbreaks of many serious diseases.
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New vaccines have become available
and are recommended for all adolescents. Immunization has the potential to
protect not only the health of adolescents, but their friends, families, and
communities.
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Who uses this information?
The National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases and the
National Center for Health Statistics (both part of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention) will use the results of the study to help improve
the health and well-being of adolescents aged 13 through 17. By monitoring
immunizations across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention are able to assess the extent to which the country is reaching
immunization goals for this population. No personal identifying information
from survey participants will be released or published.
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How
are telephone numbers selected?
A computer randomly generates the telephone numbers that are used for the
study's telephone survey. The NIS-Teen conducts interviews with people
across the entire country.
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Is there a letter that explains the study?
Most households selected for the study receive a
letter in advance
that explains the purpose of the study. This letter is from Dr. Edward J.
Sondik, Director of the National Center for Health Statistics. Not all
selected households receive a letter in advance, because the study does not
have the mailing address for all telephone numbers selected. You may view
the letter or contact the study's telephone survey researchers at
1-866-999-3340 to have a letter sent to your home or to ask us questions
about the survey.
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What
is the legal authorization for the study?
The study, which is conducted on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, is authorized by the Public Health Service Act
[Sections 306 & 2102(a)(7)]. You may call our toll-free number
1-800-223-8118 to verify the legitimacy of this survey and obtain more
information. Please mention protocol #2000-17.
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How is
confidentiality of information assured?
Confidentiality is mandated by law. Findings will be issued only in summary
form and U.S. law requires that the name of study participants not be
associated with any answers. The federal laws that require all information
we collect to be held in strict confidence are the Privacy Act of 1974,
Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 242m(d)], and the
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (PL
107-347). If any federal employee, contractor, or agent gives out
confidential information not authorized by law, he or she can be fired,
fined, and/or imprisoned.
Disclosure
of Confidential Information
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What information is available about
immunizations and about places that provide immunizations?
For more information regarding vaccinations or the phone number of a doctor
or clinic near you, please call the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention Information Contact Center at 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) and
select option 1. For more information about immunization, please visit the
web site for the National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases. National
Center for Immunizations And Respiratory Diseases.
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This page last reviewed
February 02, 2009
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