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12. Vaccine Information Sources

In addition to these general recommendations, the following sources contain specific and 

updated vaccine information.

• CDC-INFO Contact Center

The CDC-INFO contact center is supported by CDC and provides public healthrelated information, including vaccination information, for health-care providers 

and the public, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To contact CDC-INFO online at any 

time, visit https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ContactUs/Form. To contact CDC-INFO by 

telephone, call between 8 am to 8 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday at 

[English and Spanish]: 800-232-4636; telephone [TTY]: 800-232-6348. 

• CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases website 

provides direct access to ACIP’s best practices for vaccination guidance, vaccination 

schedules, automated child schedulers, an adult immunization scheduler, vaccine 

safety information, publications, provider education and training, and links to other 

vaccination-related websites (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/immunizrecords.html). 

• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Some ACIP guidance regarding vaccine use, statements of vaccine policy as they are 

developed, and reports of specific disease activity are published by CDC in the 

MMWR series and can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/aciprecs/index.html. Electronic subscriptions are free 

(www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index.html). Subscriptions to print versions also are 

available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 

Washington, D.C. 20402-9235 (telephone: 202-512-1800). 

• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

Information from the professional organization of family physicians is available at 

www.aafp.org/home.html.
General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization: Vaccination Programs 191

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Every 3 years, AAP issues the Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious 

Diseases, which contains a composite summary of AAP and ACIP recommendations 

concerning infectious diseases and vaccinations for infants, children, and 

adolescents (telephone: 888-227-1770; website: www.aap.org/enus/Pages/Default.aspx).

• American College of Physicians (ACP)

Produced by faculty of ACP’s Quality Improvement Programs and members of the 

ACP Adult Immunization Advisory Board, the ACP Guide to Adult Immunization 

helps internists develop systematic processes for incorporating immunization in 

their day-to- day practice (see https://www.acponline.org/).

• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), formerly the 

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is a professional association 

of physicians specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States. 

Information about ACOG can be found at https://www.acog.org/. 

• American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

Founded in 1852, APhA is the largest association of pharmacists in the United 

States, with more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, 

student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians as members. Information about APhA 

educational activities can be found at www.pharmacist.com/immunization-center. 

• Group on Immunization Education of the Society of Teachers of Family 

Medicine

The Group on Immunization Education of the Society of Teachers of Family 

Medicine provides information for clinicians, including the free program Shots. 

Shots includes the childhood, adolescent, and adult schedules for iPhone, Palm, and 

Windows devices, as well as online versions (http://www.immunizationed.org/).
General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization: Vaccination Programs 192

• Immunization Action Coalition (IAC)

IAC provides child, teen, and adult immunization information for health care 

professionals and their patients at http://www.immunize.org. Free materials 

include CDC-reviewed technical pieces, patient handouts, VISs in multiple 

languages, and the weekly immunization news and information service “IAC 

Express,” available at http://www.immunize.org/express. Information for the 

general public about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases is available at 

http://www.vaccineinformation.org. 

• Institute for Vaccine Safety

Located at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, the Institute for 

Vaccine Safety provides information about vaccine safety concerns and objective 

and timely information to physicians and health-care providers and parents. The 

Institute for Vaccine Safety also includes links to tables that include all vaccine 

components (http://www.vaccinesafety.edu).

• State and Local Health Departments

State and local health departments provide technical advice through hotlines, email, and websites, including printed information regarding vaccines and 

immunization schedules, posters, and other educational materials (see 

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz- managers/awardee-imz-websites.html and 

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html).

• Vaccine Education Center

Located at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Vaccine Education Center 

provides patient and provider vaccine information (www.chop.edu/centersprograms/vaccine-education-center).