The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) mandates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop vaccine information materials which are provided to patients prior to each vaccination. This mandate requires all health care providers (including local health departments) who administer vaccines against Pertussis, Mumps, Rubella, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Measles Varicella, Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Meningococcal Disease to provide a CDC-developed Vaccine Information Sheet (VIS) to all patients prior to vaccination, even those with in a multi-dose series. Each VIS provides a concise description of the benefits of the vaccine, the risk associated with the vaccine, a statement of the availability of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and other relevant information. The information in these statements is reviewed and revised by the CDC as necessary.

The final revised VIS for Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Serogroup B Meningococcal have been released by the CDC. As of November 1, 2016, all health care providers who administer the Polio, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations to any patient, adult or child should discontinue the use of all previous materials and provide copies of the updated vaccine information materials prior to vaccination. In addition, beginning December 1, 2016, each health care provider who administers Serogroup B Meningococcal vaccine to any child or adult in the United States is required to provide copies of the updated VIS prior to providing vaccination. Copies of the final VIS for Polio, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, and Serogroup B Meningococcal vaccines are available here for download.

NACCHO is dedicated to strengthening local health departments’ immunization infrastructure and building their capacity to implement evidence-based public health programs, policies, and services to meet national standards in preventing and controlling vaccine-preventable diseases. As NACCHO learns information which impacts immunization programs, we will share the information through our website or this blog.

Learn more about NACCHO’s Immunization Program.