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National Immunization Surveys (NIS)


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Frequently Asked Questions about the Surveys for ParticipantsFor Survey Participants						Español (Spanish)							Print
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			How did you get my (my child’s) phone number?Why are you calling me?Why should I take part in the survey?How do I know this is a legitimate survey?Will my answers be kept private?How long will it take?Why does the survey request information from my child’s vaccination provider?Will the medical provider be asked for any information about my child other than vaccination information?Who uses this information?Do I need to participate if I’ve already gotten my COVID-19 vaccination(s) or don’t plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine?Where can I find out more information about the COVID-19 vaccine?How do I get the calls to stop?Where do I get more information?
Q and A illustration
Q: How did you get my (my child’s) phone number?
A: A computer randomly chooses the telephone numbers used for this phone survey. The survey involves conducting phone interviews with people across the entire country. We do not know if a cell phone number we dial belongs to a child. We ask for someone over the age of 17 years and only continue the call with that person.
Q: Why are you calling me?
A: You were randomly chosen to participate in the survey. The main purpose of the NIS-Child, NIS-Teen, and NIS-Flu is to find out if recommended vaccinations are given to children and teens across the country. The main purpose of the NIS-ACM is to find out if adults are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. The main purpose of the NIS-CCM is to find out if children and teens are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations when they become available to each age group.
Q: Why should I take part in the survey?
A: We need your help to monitor vaccinations given to children and teens, as well as to monitor COVID-19 vaccinations in adults and age-eligible children and teens. You were randomly chosen to participate in the survey. We call each number to identify parents and guardians of children and teens for our surveys about childhood vaccination as well as identify adults for our survey about COVID-19 vaccination . You will represent thousands of other households who are not in the sample. We cannot talk to the millions of parents and adults in this country — that would cost too much and take too long. So, we scientifically select a “sample” of phone numbers to identify eligible households. Your household is unique and cannot be replaced with another. When selected households respond to the survey, the results are more accurate.
Q: How do I know this is a legitimate survey?
A: The surveys are conducted on behalf of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and are authorized by the Public Health Service Act [Section 306]. The phone surveys provide important information about childhood vaccinations and related health issues. If you received a call or a letter and have any questions about these surveys, please call the survey contractor, NORC, toll-free at 1-877-220-4805. Someone is usually available to answer the phone from 9AM to 9PM in your time zone. If possible, please call from the same phone line that received the call from 404-809-2644, 404-809-2195, 404-806-4810, 404-806-4811, or 404-806-4812. This helps us more quickly direct your call to someone who can answer your questions. If you leave a message, we try to return all calls received between 9AM and 9PM within one to two hours.
If you prefer to use a TTY, please call the AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-855-2880 and request that NORC be called at 1-877-220-4805
Q: Will my answers be kept private?
A: Privacy is required by law. Names and all other personal identifiers will not be released. The facts collected in the surveys will only be provided in summary reports.
The federal law that requires all information we collect to be held in strict confidence are the Privacy Act of 1974, Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 242m(d)]. If any federal employee, contractor, or agent gives out personally identifying information not authorized by law, he or she is subject to disciplinary action, including fines and criminal charges that may result in jail time. See Confidentiality: How the National Immunization Surveys Keep Your Information Private.
Q: How long will it take?
A: The survey times vary for the NIS-Child, NIS-Teen, NIS-Flu, NIS-CCM, and NIS-ACM. We try to keep the interviews to less than 20 minutes and some may be as short as 8 minutes, depending on the survey you qualify for.
Q: Why does the survey request information from my child’s vaccination provider?
A: Vaccination information from doctors and clinics tends to be the most up-to-date and complete. Types of vaccination, dates of administration, and administrative data about facility characteristics are requested from healthcare providers identified by parents during the household survey. Having your child’s medical providers report vaccination information saves you time and shortens your phone interview.
Q: Will the medical provider be asked for any information about my child other than vaccination information?
A: 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 providers are not asked to give any other information.
Once vaccination data have been collected, information that identifies the child or parent or guardian is no longer necessary or used. The names of your children and any names of their doctors or clinics will not be used in any study results.
Q: Who uses this information?
A:CDC will use the results of the study to help improve the health of children and teens, and monitor COVID-19 vaccination among adults. By checking if recommended vaccinations are being received by children across the country, CDC is able to assess the extent to which local areas, states, and the nation are reaching vaccination targets. Reports from these surveys never contain any personal information and never identify who participated in the survey.
Q: Do I need to participate if I’ve already gotten my COVID-19 vaccination(s) or don’t plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
A:We need to speak with adults and parents/guardians of age-eligible children and teens who have and have not received the COVID-19 vaccination. Your participation is important and represents other households just like yours.
Q: Where can I find out more information about the COVID-19 vaccine?
A:www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
Q: How do I get the calls to stop?
A: While we hope you are able to help us with this important health project, we understand if you are unable to do so at this time.
If you receive another call from 404-809-2644, 404-809-2195, 404-806-4810, 404-806-4811, or 404-806-4812 please answer and say “Take me off your list.” The interviewer will remove your number from our calling list.
If you do not want to wait for a call, please call NORC toll-free at 1-877-220-4805. Someone is usually available to answer the phone from 9AM to 9PM in your time zone. If possible, please call from the same phone line that received the call from 404-809-2644, 404-809-2195, 404-806-4810, 404-806-4811, or 404-806-4812. This helps us more quickly direct your call to someone who can help you. If you leave a message, we try to respond to all calls received between 9AM and 9PM within one to two hours.
If you prefer to use a TTY, please call the AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-855-2880 and request that NORC be called at 1-877-220-4805.
Q: Where do I get more information?
A: To schedule an interview:
Call NORC at 1-877-220-4805 or e-mail NORC at nisinfo@norc.org.For survey information:
Ask your interviewer.
See About NIS.For information on vaccinations:
Visit CDC’s vaccines website.
Call CDC-INFO at 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) and select option 1.Top of Page
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  January 8, 2015						Source: 	National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Immunization Services Division
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About NIS
For Participants
Frequently Asked Questions
For Health Care Professionals
Frequently Asked Questions
Data, Tables, and Documentation
NIS-Child Data and Documentation for 2015 to Present
NIS-Teen Data and Documentation for 2015 to Present
Methods
Publications and Resources
Confidentiality


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