Welcome to the Vaccines and Immunizations website.
Skip directly to the search box, site navigation, or content.

Department of Health and Human Services
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 External Web Site Policyrequires that VISs be handed out whenever (before each dose) certain vaccinations are given.

receive email updates when changes are made to this pageGet Email Updates

Downloadable VISs

Multiple Vaccines

Multiple Vaccines     (9/18/08)

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.

Adenovirus  VIS

Adenovirus     (7/14/11)

Note: Adenovirus vaccine is approved for use only among military personnel.

Anthrax VIS

Anthrax     (3/10/10)

DTaP VIS

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

Hepatitis A VIS

Hepatitis A     (10/25/11)

Hepatitis B VIS

Hepatitis B     (2/2/12)

Haemophilus Influenza type b (Hib) VIS

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

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) VIS

HPV (Human Papillomavirus Vaccine)     (2/22/12)

Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine VIS

Influenza Vaccine - Live, Intranasal    (7/2/12) updated

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine VIS

Influenza Vaccine - Inactivated   (7/2/12) updated

[NOTE: Monovalent 2009 H1N1 vaccines have expired. VISs for these vaccines are no longer available.]

Japanese Encephalitis VIS

Japanese Encephalitis   (12/7/11) 

Note: JE-VAX vaccine for children is no longer available (May 2011)

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) VIS

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)    (4/20/12)

Measles/Mumps/Rubella & Varicella (MMRV) VIS

Measles/Mumps/Rubella & Varicella (MMRV)   (5/21/10)

meningococcal VIS

Meningococcal     (10/14/11)

Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV7) VIS

Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV13)    (4/16/10)

  • PCV13 Adobe Acrobat print-friendly PDF file [PDF-54KB] (4/16/10)
  • PCV7 Adobe Acrobat print-friendly PDF file [PDF-59KB] (12/9/08)
    Use until supply of vaccine is exhausted
  • Other languagesExternal Web Site Policy*
    (including Spanish)
  • RTF file (for use in electronic systems)
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPV23) VIS

Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPSV23)    (10/06/09)

Polio VIS

Polio     (11/08/11) 

Rabies VIS

Rabies     (10/06/09)

Rotavirus VIS

Rotavirus     (12/06/10)

Shingles VIS

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)     (10/06/09)

Smallpox (Vaccina) VIS

Smallpox (Vaccinia)    (10/1/09)

This medication guide replaces the Smallpox VIS. It is to be used before one receives the vaccination.
Medical Guide for vaccination with ACAM2000 Adobe Acrobat print-friendly PDF file [85KB - 6 pages]

This guide is not available in other languages.

Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td) VIS

Tetanus/Diphtheria/(Pertussis) (Td/Tdap)    (1/24/12)

Typhoid VIS

Typhoid    (5/29/12)

Varicella (Chickenpox) VIS

Varicella (Chickenpox)     (3/13/08)

Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever     (03/30/11)

top of page

Download Instructions

top of page

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.

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.

*VISs in other languages:

Download these Vaccine Information Statements in many languages through our partner, the Immunization Action CoalitionExternal Web Site Policy (IAC). Foreign language translations of Vaccine Information Statements are coordinated by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) through a cooperative agreement with CDC.


Vaccine Information Statements
The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) requires that patients (or their parent or legal representative) be given, or shown, a copy of the appropriate Vaccine Information Statement prior to receipt of any vaccine listed on the routine childhood immunization schedule.

Detailed recommendations for using vaccines are available from the manufacturers' package inserts, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) statements on specific vaccines, and the American Academy of Pediatrics Red Book. ACIP statements for all recommended childhood vaccines can be viewed, downloaded, and printed on this web site.

Consult the VAERS site for guidance on how to obtain and complete a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting SystemExternal Web Site Policy (VAERS) form or call 800-822-7967.

top of page

Images and logos on this website which are trademarked/copyrighted or used with permission of the trademark/copyright or logo holder are not in the public domain. These images and logos have been licensed for or used with permission in the materials provided on this website. The materials in the form presented on this website may be used without seeking further permission. Any other use of trademarked/copyrighted images or logos requires permission from the trademark/copyright holder

External Web Site Policy This symbol means you are leaving the CDC.gov Web site. For more information, please see CDC's Exit Notification and Disclaimer policy.

File Formats: All viewers, players, and plug-ins used on this site can be downloaded from the file formats page. (For example: Adobe Acrobat Reader for pdf files, Windows Media Player for audio and video files, PowerPoint Viewer for presentation slides, etc.)

This page last modified on September 14, 2012
Content last reviewed on July 16, 2012
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases


Quick Links

Safer Healthier People

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A
Public Inquiries: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636); 1-888-232-6348 (TTY)

Vaccines and Immunizations