Immunization

Communicating with Families

All parents care about their children’s health, and they often rely on you, their pediatrician, to help them navigate a confusing sea of child health information. Immunizations and vaccines are just one area of concern for families right now, and this Web site is here to help you help families make informed decisions.

 

 

 

Resources for Vaccine Conversations

Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents
Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) these new materials can help health care providers communicate vaccine information to parents more effectively. These pieces build on the latest research in vaccine and communication science and are designed to help you stay current on vaccine topics; strengthen communication and trust between you and parents; and share up-to-date, easy-to-use information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases with parents. Sign up for email updates at the link above, as additional materials will be added regularly. (Exit Site)

 

Vaccine Information Statements

Before administering any vaccines covered by the National Vaccine Childhood Injury Act (NVCIA), federal law mandates that pediatricians give the parent/guardian all appropriate copies of VISs and make sure they understand the risks and benefits of the vaccine(s). By Federal law, VISs must be produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and cannot be altered. (Exit Site)

 

For your convenience, pre-printed, colored VIS statements are sold in pads of 100 at the AAP Bookstore.

Improve Liability Protection

To maximize pediatrician liability protection, physicians should improve compliance with the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) requirements. Just giving parents Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) is not enough. Learn about the 4 D’s – Distribute, Discuss, Document, and Dialogue – of vaccine risk communication. (PDF 51KB)

 

Vaccine Safety

• Parent Page

• Refusal to Vaccinate (PDF 92KB)

• Vaccine Safety: The Facts (PDF 45KB) Modifiable for your practice (DOC)

 

Posters

• Vintage Immunization Poster (PDF 221KB)

• Breastfeeding Immunization Poster (PDF 328KB)

• Breastfeeding: Baby's First Immunization Poster (PDF 6.21MB)

• My kids are immunized! (DOC 3,108KB)

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Print off handouts with answers to questions most frequently asked by parents.