First Time Visitor?

What information is available on the NCIRD website?

• Information on child and adult vaccine-preventable diseases and their prevention
• Recommended schedules:
  • infant and toddlers (0-6 years old)
  • infant and toddler interactive scheduler (generated by birth date for children birth to 6 years old)
  • catch-up (1 month behind in vaccination series)
  • teens and college students (7-18 years old)
  • adults (19 years and older)
  • Adult Immunization Quiz
• Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) briefly describe the vaccine preventable disease, risks, side-effects of vaccine, etc. These VIS must be provided to the patient whenever a vaccine is administered.
• Benefits of immunization and the impact of vaccines   
• Risks of immunization versus the risk of disease
• Publications on immunization and immunization-related issues
• Latest News on immunizations, vaccine-related newsletters, and other important immunization-related issues
• Educational materials and resources for healthcare professionals
• Information geared toward various groups of people (e.g., American Indian/Alaskan Native, healthcare workers, international adoptees, pregnant women, etc.) especially travelers
• and much more than can be accessed via the home page and the left navigation column.

Is the Vaccines and Immunizations website information credible

Yes, the NCIRD's Vaccines and Immunizations website information is credible. The NCIRD website is produced by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), the Federal Government's principal agency for immunization research and a component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

And, how do I know if the vaccine information I find on the Internet is accurate?

First, consider the source of information. A good health website will display who is responsible for the content of the site. Also look for a way to contact the information provider or Webmaster. Health information should be accurate and unbiased, and information should not be slanted in favor of a website's sponsor or source of funding. The evaluating information on the web page provides additional information and suggests questions to ask to determine the accuracy of website information.

How frequently is the NCIRD website updated?

The NCIRD website information is reviewed regularly for currency and is updated at least weekly to include the latest facts. The home page spotlights recently published items at the top of the page. Be sure to visit the site often to get the latest immunization information. Most pages are reviewed yearly.

How can I continue to get up-to-date immunization information?

Return to the website site frequently, because the content changes often to mirror the changes and advances in immunization research. Be sure to check the Spotlight area for the latest topics and the News page for recent immunization articles, and sign up for free newsletters on the NCIRD website.

What features should every user know about?

• Home pages are customized for each of our major audiences needs. Use these pages to find information relative to your specific needs/concerns.
  • Home page (for everyone)
  • Parents home page
  • Healthcare Professionals home page
  • Program Managers home page
  • Traveler's vaccines home page
• Acronyms and abbreviations found throughout the site are spelled out. Also offered is a Glossary of immunization terms which defines medical terms. Both these features are available via the left navigation bar of every page on the site.
• Events for vaccine and immunization-related upcoming events
• Help - Contains instructions on how to capture pictures, making the Vaccines & Immunization site your default home web page, site map, etc. The Help feature is always available via the Help link in the right column on all pages.
• Partners' & related websites - A list of websites containing immunization-related information (via the link on the left navigation bar).
• News - Features news stories on immunization topics.
• Search for keywords using the Search box located in the header of every page

What if there are medical terms I don't understand?

Use the website's Glossary of Immunization Terms, which contains definitions of medical terms along with the phonetic spelling for most terms. A link to the Glossary is located in the left navigation bar and at the bottom of every page.

Are there other ways to access immunization information?

You can learn how to get immunization information by phone, fax, email, and mail by using the Contact Us link in the left navigation column of every page. Information from other organizations can also be accessed from the left navigation column by clicking Partners' & Related Sites.

What if I can't find the information I'm looking for?

• If you can't locate the immunization information you need, call the CDC-INFO Contact Center.
  English and Spanish  
  (800) 232-4636
  (800) CDC-INFO

• If you have technical or navigational difficulties using this site, contact your Internet provider and/or technical support staff.
• If you are still experiencing difficulty with the NCIRD website, send a message to our Webmaster at ncirdwebteam@cdc.gov or use the following form.

How do I order NCIRD publications?

• Click on Online order form. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.
• Call the CDC-INFO Contact Center at 
  (800) CDC-INFO or (800) 232-4636.
• Further details on publications are available via the Publications page.

Where can I find immunization coverage data?

Click on Statistics and Surveillance link located on the home page to view several sources of immunization coverage data and the national immunization survey (updated twice a year.)

Where can I find vaccine recommendations for travel, state requirements, and my immunization records?

You can find information on locating immunization records on our Immunization Records page. It is available via the Vaccination Records link on the home page.

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