Understanding Vaccines and Vaccine Safety

The fact sheets below provide information about vaccine testing, safety, monitoring, and the process for establishing the U.S. immunization schedule.
These materials are intended to help health care professionals keep up to date on vaccine topics. The sheets may also be distributed to parents wanting in-depth information on these topics after talking to their child’s doctor. Most sheets include references and published scientific studies.
Printed size: 8-1/2"x 11", 2 pages
Commercial printer files available upon request

Understanding MMR Vaccine Safety

(Updated MAR 2012; Posted AUG 2012)

Addresses common questions about the MMR vaccine, including those related to side effects and effectiveness.

Understanding How Vaccines Work

(Reviewed MAR 2012; Posted AUG 2012)

Explains how the immune system responds to vaccines to build immunity.

Understanding the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)

(Updated MAR 2012; Posted AUG 2012)

Describes one of the components of the United States' comprehensive vaccine safety monitoring system.

Ensuring the Safety of Vaccines in the United States

(Reviewed MAR 2012; Posted AUG 2012)

Outlines how vaccines are tested for safety before being licensed for use and how their safety is monitored after licensure.

Understanding Thimerosal, Mercury, and Vaccine Safety

(Reviewed MAR 2012; Posted AUG 2012)

Explains what thimerosal is, why it is used as a preservative in multi-dose vials of flu vaccine, and highlights conclusions from studies examining thimerosal safety in vaccines.

The Childhood Immunization Schedule

(Reviewed MAR 2012; Posted AUG 2012)

Describes how the U.S. recommended immunization schedule is set.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

(Updated MAR 2012; Posted AUG 2012)

Provides details about the group of experts who make U.S. immunization recommendations.

About These Materials

These materials, collectively called Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents, have been developed by CDC, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP),

and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

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