In the United States, vaccinations (also known as immunizations) are issued through local health facilities or doctor's offices. To find out which vaccinations are offered in your area, contact the appropriate state health department . If you are looking for vaccination information for a child, check with the child's doctor, the local health department, or the child's school district for assistance.
More information on vaccines and immunizations is also available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , including a list of immunization schedules . For information by telephone, please call the CDC information line at 1.800.CDC.INFO (1.800.232.4636).
If you or your child has experienced a serious reaction (adverse event) to a vaccine, you may wish to report the adverse event to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) . You may also wish to view answers to frequently asked questions about reporting filing vaccine-related adverse events .
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) was established to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines, stabilize vaccine costs, and establish and maintain an accessible and efficient forum for individuals found to be injured by certain vaccines. For more information (including covered vaccines , who is eligible to file a claim , how to file a claim , filing deadlines and answers to frequently asked questions ), please call the VICP hotline at 1.800.338.2382.
Adolescent and Adult Vaccinations
According to the CDC, immunity from some childhood vaccines can decrease over time, so people need to get another dose of the vaccine during their pre-teen years. It is recommended that pre-teens get several vaccines at their 11- or 12-year-old check-up. For more information, please visit the CDC's pre-teen and adolescent vaccinations web page .
The CDC also states that vaccines are not just for kids-- everyone from young adults to senior citizens can benefit from immunizations. For more information, please visit the CDC's Vaccine-Preventable Adult Diseases web page , which provides a schedule of immunizations by type and age. Check with your doctor to find out if you need additional immunizations and when you should receive them.
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccinations
On September 15, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it approved four vaccines for the novel H1N1 virus . Nationwide distribution of the novel H1N1 flu vaccine began on September 30, 2009. You may wish to view the CDC's novel H1N1 vaccination recommendations web page for more information.
A voluntary recall was issued for some lots of pediatric novel H1N1 vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur in pre-filled syringes. There are no safety concerns with these lots of novel H1N1 vaccine; they are being recalled because they do not meet the manufacturer's specifications for potency. For more information, please view the CDC's answers to frequently asked questions about the voluntary recall of certain lots of Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 vaccine .
Flu.gov offers information about H1N1 vaccination and planning , as well as an H1N1 resource kit with information about what you can do to prepare for flu season and how to protect yourself against both H1N1 influenza and other types of flu.
Health Observances:
- January 10 - 16, 2010, was National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) .
- April 24 - May 1, 2010, is National Infant Immunization Week , an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases.
- August is National Immunization Awareness Month , designated to increase awareness about receiving immunizations throughout your entire life span, from infancy to old age.
Additional Resources:
- A Parent's Guide to Kids' Vaccines
- Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) - for members of the military