Who Provides Information on Vaccine Schedules
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is the primary authoritative source that develops and publishes vaccine schedules in the United States, with schedules available through multiple CDC platforms and endorsed by major medical organizations. 1, 2
Primary Information Sources
CDC Resources (Most Authoritative)
CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases provides the most comprehensive and current vaccine schedule information through their website (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines), offering: 3
- Direct access to ACIP vaccination recommendations
- Current vaccination schedules (child, adolescent, and adult)
- Automated child and adult immunization schedulers
- Vaccine safety information
- Provider education and training materials
CDC-INFO Contact Center offers 24/7 access to vaccination information for both healthcare providers and the public: 3
- Telephone (English/Spanish): 800-232-4636
- TTY: 800-232-6348
MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) publishes official ACIP recommendations as they are developed, with free electronic subscriptions available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html 3
Professional Medical Organizations
The following organizations approve and harmonize their recommendations with ACIP schedules: 1, 2
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - publishes the Red Book every 3 years with comprehensive immunization recommendations (telephone: 888-227-1770; http://www.aap.org) 4
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) - http://www.aafp.org 3, 4
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 1, 2
- American College of Physicians (ACP) 2
- American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) 1, 2
Additional Reliable Resources
Immunization Action Coalition provides extensive free materials including: 3, 4
- Provider and patient information
- Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) translated into multiple languages
- Materials reviewed by CDC for technical accuracy
- Available at http://www.immunize.org and http://www.vaccineinformation.org
State and Local Health Departments offer: 3, 4
- Technical advice through hotlines, email, and websites
- Printed immunization schedules
- Posters and educational materials
- Region-specific guidance
Important Considerations
Schedule Updates: ACIP reviews and updates immunization schedules annually, with the most current versions always available on CDC's website (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules). 1 Changes can occur between annual updates, so providers should regularly check for interim recommendations published in MMWR.
Syndication Recommendation: CDC strongly encourages organizations to use content syndication rather than copying schedules to their websites, ensuring automatic display of the most current schedules. 1
Comprehensive Use Required: Healthcare providers must use all components together—cover page, tables, notes, appendix, and addendum—when making vaccination recommendations for individual patients. 2