| **National      Center for       Health Statistics               Division of Data       Services               6525 Belcrest Road       Hyattsville, MD       20782-2003       (301)458-4636 **

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**Frequently    Asked    Questions by    Parents and Guardians**

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?Why does the study    **request information from medical providers?**Will medical    providers give a **child's full medical history to the    CDC?**What information    is available about **immunizations**    and about places that provide immunization shots? 

**What is the purpose of the survey?**    The purpose of the National Immunization Survey is to monitor the immunizations of    children across the country. It has been discovered that many children are not receiving    their required immunizations, and this could potentially lead to the re-emergence of    many serious diseases.

**Who uses this information?**    The National Center for Health Statistics and the National Immunization Program (both    agencies are part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) will use the results    of the study to help improve children's health. By monitoring immunization across the    country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is able to assess the extent to    which the country, States, and certain metropolitan areas are reaching the immunization    goals of the Childhood Immunization Initiative.  The results of the study do not    involve any personal identifying information from survey participants. They are available    only at the metropolitan, State, or national level.

**How    are telephone numbers selected?**    A computer randomly generates the telephone numbers that are used for the study's    telephone survey.  No person or organization provides the study with any telephone    numbers.  (The survey involves conducting interviews with people across the entire    country.)

**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, however, because the study does not have the mailing address for all telephone    numbers selected for the study. You may contact the **study's telephone survey researchers**    at (800) 247-1970 to have a letter sent to your home.

**What    is the legal authorization for the study?**    The study is being conducted on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and    Prevention, and it is authorized by the Public Health Service Act [Sections 306 &    2102(a)(7)]. You may call our toll-free number (800) 247-1970 to verify the legitimacy of    this survey and obtain more information.

**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. Any    willful and knowing disclosure in violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 would subject the    violator to a fine of up to $5,000. Under the Public Health Service Act,    "Unauthorized disclosure of the confidential information is punishable under Title    18, Section 1905 of the U.S. Code." This excerpt is from Section 308d (1) of the    Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242k), and the Privacy Act of 1974, Section (e)    (3). Also, you may view a section of the NCHS Staff Manual on Confidentiality, which    further explains the prohibitions against **Disclosure    of Confidential Information.**

**Why does the study request information    from the children's medical provider?**    We have discovered that vaccination information from doctors and clinics tends to be the    most up-to-date and comprehensive and that the quality of the study's results is much    improved by combining the information given by households with that given by medical    providers. It is important that we obtain the most reliable information possible about    children's vaccinations so that we can provide the public with reliable estimates.

**Will    the medical provider give a child's full medical history to the CDC?**    No. With the permission of a parent or legal guardian, we send a request form, along with    a record of the parent or guardian's consent, to the child's doctor or clinic. The    request form asks specifically about the vaccination records only, and we do not expect    providers to give any other information.    Once immunization data have been collected, identifying information is no longer necessary    or used. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assure you that any names of    children, as well as any names of doctors or clinics, will not be used in any study    results.

**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 National Immunization Hotline at (800) 232-2522 in English or (800)    232-0233 in Spanish. For more information about immunization, please visit the Web site    for the **National    Immunization Program.**

**Home | English Overview | Spanish Overview |    Household FAQProvider FAQ | Children with    Special Health Care Needs FAQSurvey of Families with Young Children FAQ | ConfidentialityAbt Associates Inc. | MMWR | Search NCHS | Contact    us**
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This page last reviewed March 24, 2000

**U.S.    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES****Centers    for Disease Control and Prevention**    National Center for Health Statistics    Division of Data Services     Hyattsville, MD    20782-2003    (301) 458-4636 |
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