DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

National Center for Immunization 

and Respiratory Diseases 

1600 Clifton Road, NE 

Mail Stop E-05 

Atlanta, Georgia 30333 

From the Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases:

I am asking for your help with an important study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC) called the National Immunization Survey (NIS). This survey tells us which 

immunizations children in the U.S. have received and about other important health topics. 

Results from the NIS are used to help health officials in their efforts to protect the health of 

children. Since the NIS began in 1994, over 500,000 parents and over 300,000 healthcare 

providers have participated. In the next few weeks, NORC at the University of Chicago will call 

your household to ask you to take part in this study for CDC. Your personal information will be 

kept confidential and is protected by federal law.

In the first part of this study, we will ask you about your child’s immunizations and health. Some 

households may also be asked questions about the health services their children need or use. 

In the second part, we will ask for your permission to contact your child’s healthcare providers to 

ask about immunizations each provider has given to them. If you have a child between 17 and 

37 months of age or a teen aged 13-17 years, it will be helpful to have the names and 

addresses of their healthcare providers handy. 

Your phone number was chosen randomly by computer. It is important for us to interview every 

household we call to get a complete picture of your area’s immunization rates and key factors 

that might affect them. The study is important, but you do not have to take part, or you can 

decide not to answer one or more questions. 

You may call us toll free at 1-877-220-4805 if you would like to take part in the study or to learn 

more about the study and what you will be asked. For more information, turn this letter over or 

go to the study web site: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/nis.

Your answers to the NIS will provide information to help improve the nation’s health now and in 

the years ahead. We need your help and hope you will decide to take part when we call. 

Thank you for your cooperation. I am grateful for your help. 

Sincerely, 

Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH

Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

OVER

NIS
NIS 

What is NORC at the University of Chicago? 

NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is an independent research organization that 

conducts interviews on immunizations and children’s health for the CDC. Additional 

information on NORC can be found on its website at www.norc.org. 

NORC Toll Free Number: 1-877-220-4805 

You can call the NORC toll free number to take part in the study, learn more about the 

study, and hear what you will be asked. 

Who sees my answers? 

You will be called by a trained interviewer who enters your answers into a computer. 

Everyone who works on the survey must sign an oath that promises they will never give 

out anyone's personal information. Only a few people who work on this survey ever see 

any personal information. Answers that could identify you or your family in any way are 

separated from your other answers. Survey findings are put into summary reports that 

contain no names or other information that identifies you. 

How do you protect my information? 

Your answers are used for analysis purposes only. We conduct this survey under the 

Public Health Service Act and the Privacy Act. These laws require that we protect your 

family’s information and keep it confidential. If you would like to know more about how we 

protect your answers, these laws are described in detail at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imzmanagers/nis/confidentiality.html. 

How do I find more about immunizations and places to get them? 

You may call toll free 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) for more information about 

vaccinations or to get the phone number of a doctor or clinic near you. 

If you prefer to use a TTY 

Please call the AT&T Relay Service at 711 and request that NORC be called at 

1-877-220-4805.