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>> Vaccine safety net

Vaccine safety websites meeting essential and important good information practices criteria

The viral hepatitis prevention board web is part of the WHO vaccine safety net. On this page you find a list of organisations with websites that meet the credibility and content criteria of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS).

This list is extracted from the WHO approved vaccine safety websites web pages on  January 23, 2009. You find for each site the language, intended target audience, a short description of the content and date of the last WHO evaluation.

Asociación Española de Pediatría
Spanish
Audience: Spanish-speaking health-care professionals, parents, interested members of the public and the media

This is the official site of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics Advisory Committee on Vaccines (ACV), which consists of a panel of immunization and vaccine-preventable disease experts.
Information on the site, which has full free access, is structured by target group (health-care professionals, the general public and the media). There are sections on immunization schedules, vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine safety. Parents can activate personal calendar alerts for their children. Both the public and professionals can interact with the ACV through an interactive question and answer section. The site provides links to original sources wherever possible.
The AEP, founded in 1949, is the largest paediatric organization in Spain, with more than nine thousand paediatricians and paediatric surgeons.
Date of primary evaluation: March 2009

Asociación Española de Vacunología
Spanish
Audience: health-care professionals, the general public including parents and patients, and the media

The aim of this web site is to be an essential source of information on diseases prevented through vaccination, background on vaccine development and vaccine safety. Vacunas.org includes official vaccination schedules, publications of interest, information about vaccination campaigns, links to other web sites of interest, and many question and answer pages on the history, concept, effectiveness and safety of vaccines. The AEV issues a monthly electronic newsletter which provides the abstracts of the latest scientific papers and other news on vaccination-related topics translated into Spanish. It has also launched Shared in Common Vaccines to promote immunization where it is most needed.
The mission of the AEV is to provide the public, health professionals, policy-makers and the media with up-to-date, scientifically valid information related to immunization to help them understand the issues and to make informed decisions. It is a service provided by the Asociación Española de Vacunología, a Spanish non-profit organization.
Date of last evaluation: April 2009

Berufsverband der Kinder- und Jugendarzte (BVKJ)
German
Audience: parents, young people, educators, paediatricians and other interested members of the public

The primary objective of the website of the Berufsverband der Kinder- und Jugendarzte e.V. – BVKJ (Professional Association of Children’s and Young People’s Physicians) is to provide parents, educators, paediatricians and other interested members of the public with information on the subject of children’s and young people’s health. Apart from daily reports on vaccination and other issues, the website also provides a comprehensive encyclopaedia on children’s and young people’s major diseases, including all the infectious diseases which can be prevented by vaccination.
A main section of the website is the chapter entitled "Impfen schutzt" (Vaccination as a safeguard). This contains comprehensive information on vaccination as well as current recommendations provided by the Vaccination Committee at the Robert Koch Institut in Berlin. Members of this Committee oversee this section of the website. The pages address general questions on vaccination safety such as the correct time to receive vaccinations and possible contraindications and reactions to vaccination, as well as providing information on individual vaccines. The vaccination schedule for Germany can be printed from the site.
The internet service is subject to permanent quality control. The content is regularly reviewed by an editing committee of the BVKJ and updated whenever necessary.
Date of last evaluation: April 2010

Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness and Promotion (CCIAP)
English and French
Audience: parents, adults, health professionals in Canada

The Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness & Promotion (CCIAP) is a partnership of national non-governmental, professional health, consumer, government and private sector organizations.
Its overall aim is to increase awareness about the benefits of immunization and promote the understanding and use of vaccines as recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). NACI is a national committee of recognized experts in various fields including pediatrics, infectious diseases, and public health; the Committee makes recommendations for the use of vaccines currently or newly approved for use in humans in Canada. Through its website, CCIAP helps inform Canadians (health care professionals and the general public) about immunization by offering a range of resources including publications, policy statements, a bi-monthly newsletter, and links to outside web-based references.
The website also provides access to a plethora of promotional materials which are downloadable free of charge and are available in both official languages of Canada, English and French. The website is managed by the CCIAP Secretariat located at the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) in Ottawa, Canada and is regularly updated to ensure the quality and timeliness of the information
Date of last evaluation: June 2010

Carin for Kids (CfK), Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) English 
Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) Francais 
English or French
Audience: paediatricians and others who provide health care for children and youth

Caring for Kids is a website developed by the Canadian Paediatric Society, a national association of paediatricians, committed to working together to advance the health of children and youth by nurturing excellence in health care, advocacy, education, research and support of its membership. Caring for Kids provides parents with information about their child's health and well-being. Most documents on Caring for Kids are based on CPS position statements, which are created by expert committees and approved by the CPS Board of Directors. Position statements are reviewed each year to ensure they are up-to-date. Other documents are developed and reviewed by the CPS Public Education Subcommittee, which is made up of practicing paediatricians from across Canada. Links to the relevant CPS position statement, or other source material, as well as additional information can be found at the end of each document on Caring for Kids. Caring for Kids is funded by the CPS. The CPS does not accept product advertisements on this site.
Date of primary evaluation: August 2005
Date of last evaluation: February 2010

Childhood Immunization Support Program (CISP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
English
Audience: Pediatricians, health-care professionals and parents

Since 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics has worked in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement the AAP Childhood Immunization Support Program (CISP). The CISP aims to improve the immunization delivery system for children in the United States. The CISP website provides immunization information and resources to pediatricians, health-care professionals and families. The site includes resources developed by AAP, including a section of "Frequently asked questions for parents" and video clips about vaccine-preventable diseases.
The AAP is a not-for-profit corporation organized for scientific and educational purposes. The Academy has approximately 60000 members in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Members include pediatricians, pediatric medical sub-specialists and pediatric surgical specialists. The AAP and its members are committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
The CISP website is updated on a daily basis.
Date of primary evaluation: June 2004
Date of last evaluation: February 2010

Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS)
English (with many materials in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish)
Audience: Ministries of Health, National Regulatory Authorities, health-care personnel and members of the public

The website of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety publishes information on a range of vaccine safety issues, relating to immunization systems, vaccine production, vaccine regulation, and the monitoring and management of adverse events. Reports of Committee meetings are posted twice a year, with additional statements and Questions and Answers on specific issues published on an ad hoc basis.
The GACVS was established in 1999 by the World Health Organization to respond promptly, efficiently, and with scientific rigour to vaccine safety issues of potential global importance. Its members are acknowledged experts from around the world in the fields of epidemiology, statistics, paediatrics, internal medicine, pharmacology and toxicology, infectious diseases, public health, immunology and autoimmunity, drug regulation and safety.
Date of primary evaluation: November 2004
Date of last evaluation: January 2009

Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
English
Audience: health professionals and government agencies

The Health Protection Agency website includes vaccine coverage statistics for the United Kingdom, official recommendations, and links to scientific papers and presentations related to vaccines and immunization.
The HPA is a national organization for England and Wales dedicated to protecting people's health and reducing the impact of infectious diseases, chemical hazards, poisons and radiation hazards. It brings together the expertise of health and scientific professionals working in public health, communicable disease, emergency planning, infection control, laboratories, poisons, chemical, and radiation hazards.
Date of primary evaluation: May 2004
Date of last evaluation: February 2010

Immunisation Scotland
English, with all publications available in other languages
Audience: Parents, adults, young people, children and health professionals in Scotland

Immunization Action Coalition (IAC)
English, some printed material available in up to 33 additional languages
Audience: health-care professionals

Launched in 1994, this website is one of the oldest sources of immunization information on the internet. The site offers many free print resources for health professionals and their patients. Sections about 18 vaccine-preventable diseases include links to related journal articles, recommendations, organizations, photos, video footage, case reports, and resources. The site includes a large “Vaccine Safety” section with links to related journal articles. Vaccine Information Statements, information sheets that explain the benefits and risks of a vaccine, are available in 33 languages.
Date of primary evaluation: December 2003
Date of most recent evaluation: February 2009

Impfbrief.de
German
Audience: German-speaking health-care professionals, the media and interested members of the public

The aim of this web site is to be an essential source of latest news on vaccines and vaccination. It includes background on vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine safety and scares. Information on payment of expenses related to vaccination within the German health-care system is also available. Obstacles to immunization are openly addressed. The latest scientific findings from literature or conferences are briefly described. Detailed reviews are provided by members of the web site's scientific board or guest authors. Comments from editors or members of the scientific board are published to help readers' understanding. The site provides links to original sources wherever possible.
Much of the content of the site is only available on payment of a subscription fee, which is used to cover operating costs. Subscribers may submit vaccine queries to the scientific board for response. A newsletter and several articles are available free of charge every month.
Date of primary evaluation: September 2008
Date of last evaluation: Augustus 2010

Impfkontrolle.de
German
Audience: the general public (particularly parents, young people, adults, seniors and patients), the media and health-care professionals

The aim of this web site is to provide up-to-date information about vaccination, categorized by target group. Background information on general immunization issues, vaccine-preventable diseases and the national immunization schedule for Germany are provided. Focus is given to specific topics, such as human papillovmavirus and rotavirus vaccination, on a regular basis. Information about payment of expenses related to vaccination within the German health-care system is also given.
A special feature of the site is the “Impfchecker”, a cost-free online tool to evaluate vaccination requirements on the basis of date of birth, gender, pregnancy status, and the presence of chronic diseases or other conditions.
Date of primary evaluation: January 2009
Date of last evaluation: September 2010

InfoVac
French, German
Audience:  health-care professionals, the general public (including parents and patients) and the media.

Via a user-friendly interface, this web site provides answers to questions concerning all the vaccines recommended in Switzerland. It is run by InfoVac, a network of experts led by the Medical Faculty of Geneva University.
For professionals, the site provides a list of past and present vaccines, factsheets for distribution to patients, and all official related documents and recommendations. Furthermore, health-care professionals from Switzerland may register to receive rapid responses from experts on any vaccine-related questions as well as monthly newsletters.
For the public, the site provides information (including brochures, photos and videos) on vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccines, and immunization. There is a comprehensive section dealing with vaccine safety concerns, which includes frequently asked questions followed by substantiated scientific answers.
All statements on www.infovac.ch are reviewed weekly or as often as needed.
Date of primary evaluationOctober 2007

Date of last evaluation: April 2010

Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
English, with some links to forms in other languages
Audience:  Parents, health-care professionals, and journalists

The web site of the Institute for Vaccine Safety (IVS) provides information about vaccine safety issues, including technical and scientific information about vaccines. It provides easy access to guidelines on the use of vaccines.
IVS is a non-profit entity dedicated to providing objective information in a timely manner concerning the safety of vaccines. The Institute has conducted numerous workshops for public health officials and journalists on various vaccine safety concerns.
The IVS web site is continuously reviewed and updated.
Date of primary evaluation:September 2006
Date of last evaluation: February2010

Murcia Salud
Spanish
Region of Murcia Public Health, Spain
Audience : health professionals and the public

This website´s aim is to be an essential source of scientific public health information for the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia (Spain). The vaccination section includes official vaccination schedules, publications of interest, information about vaccination campaigns and immunization coverage, links to other web sites of interest, and many Question & Answer pages on the history, concept, effectiveness and safety of vaccines.
The Murcia Salud web site is maintained by the Regional Government of Murcia. The section related to vaccines is revised and updated by members of the Health Protection Service and the Immunization Programme of Murcia whenever necessary, and particularly when relevant scientific papers appear or when modifications to the Immunization Program are introduced.
The web site is funded exclusively by the Regional Government of Murcia.
Date of last evaluation: March 2009

National Immunisation Programme of the Health Service Executive of Ireland
English and Irish
Audience: members of the public and health professionals

This web site provides accurate, up-to-date, factual information on childhood and adult immunization, in the context of the Irish National Immunisation Programme. There is a comprehensive section for health professionals which includes the national immunization guidelines, as well as disease-specific information and immunization schedules in a variety of languages. The site also includes a section on frequently asked questions as well as extensive links to national and international sites.
The Health Service Executive has overall responsibility for providing health and personal social services for the Republic of Ireland.
The web site content is updated on a monthly basis. More regular updates are made if required. A ”Hot Topics” section contains items of recent interest.
Date of last evaluation : June 2009

National Network for Immunization Information (NNii)
English, with some information on "Vaccines and the diseases they prevent" in Spanish.
Audience: health-care professionals, parents, patients, and the media

The NNii website features information on diseases prevented through immunization, background on vaccine development and vaccine safety, essays on such topics as herd immunity, and a free resource kit to help health-care providers discuss immunization with their patients. The site also includes a database of NNii’s electronic news service articles, collected from more than 1 300 daily newspapers, wire services, news and health journals.
The mission of the NNii is to provide the public, health professionals, policy-makers and the media with up-to-date, scientifically valid information related to immunization to help them understand the issues and to make informed decisions. It is a service provided by Immunizations for Public Health, a Texas-based non-profit corporation.
The site is updated on a weekly basis.
Date of primary evaluation: June 2004
Date of most recent evaluation: November 2008

Network Italiano dei Servizi di Vaccinazione (NIV)
Italian (with some links to English documents)
Audience: members of the public and health-care professionals

The aim of the website of the Italian Network of Vaccination Services (NIV) is to provide information on vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine safety to both the general public and health-care professionals (in separate sections). The site was created with the dual purpose of answering parental concerns as well as offering a useful tool for health-care professionals involved in vaccination issues.
Since 2001, the NIV has issued a weekly electronic newsletter that provides the abstracts of the latest scientific papers and other news on vaccination-related topics translated into Italian. Links are provided to the original abstract or full text article when available.
The NIV was established in 2000 and represents a network of vaccination services of the Italian National Health System. The network is officially recognized by all of the regional governments in Italy.
Date of primary evaluation: February 2005
Date of last evaluation: October 2008

NHS Immunisation Information of the Department of Health of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
English, with some materials available in other languages
Audience: parents, health professionals and children, primarily based in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

A comprehensive and carefully researched web site about immunization, vaccines and the diseases against which they protect. Features of the site are a monthly newsletter for health professionals, the current immunization schedule for the United Kingdom, information on key research papers published, press releases and training slides, material on how the NHS uses market research to develop information materials, and a children's area including animations explaining how vaccines work.
The NHS (National Health Service) is responsible for providing health services in the public sector in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Date of primary evaluation: February 2008

PATH's Vaccine Resource Library
English, materials also available in French, Russian and Spanish
Audience: immunization decision-makers and programme managers, health-care providers and parents

PATH’s Vaccine Resource Library is a comprehensive listing of technically accurate, up-to-date materials on general immunization topics such as injection safety and health worker training, as well as in-depth resources on vaccine-preventable diseases. Resource listings are gathered from global health partners including the World Health Organization, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, PATH, and many others.
The Vaccine Resource Library expands upon activities initiated through the PATH Children’s Vaccine Program (CVP), which was established in 1999 to develop and implement innovative approaches to immunization delivery in developing countries. PATH is an international, non-profit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health.
Resource listings are updated quarterly.
Date of most recent evaluation: May 2009

Public Health Agency of Canada
English version
French version
Audience: members of the public and health-care providers

The Public Health Agency of Canada is a federal agency working in collaboration with provinces and territories to renew the public health system in Canada and support a sustainable health-care system. The agency's website includes an immunization section that features links to the "Canadian Immunization Guide", vaccine safety qeustions and answers, National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations, immunization schedules and more.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is part of the public service and headed by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada who reports to the Minister of Health.
Date of primary evaluation: November 2004
Date of last evaluation: May 2008

Rijksvaccinatieprogramma (RVP)
Dutch
Audience: members of the public and health-care professionals

The Rijksvaccinatieprogramma (National Vaccination Programme of the Netherlands) was established by the Government of the Netherlands in 1957. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment advises on and evaluates the programme. It also coordinates communication to the public and health-care professionals, in collaboration with the Netherlands Vaccine Institute and the National Society of Regional Vaccination Administrations.
The objective of the programme is to protect all children from dangerous or deadly infectious diseases. The Government invites parents to have their children vaccinated through the national vaccination programme although participation is not obligatory. The creation of this website was commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. It provides information on why vaccinations are necessary, how they work and their side effects and gives a description of the infectious diseases for which vaccines exist. It also includes a section with frequently asked questions and provides links for more information.
The site is updated at least twice a year and with every change in the vaccination programme.
Date of primary evaluation: February 2005
Date of last evaluation: October 2007

Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
German, some background information available in English
Audience: general public, health-care providers and political decision-makers

The RKI web site on vaccination includes original articles on prevention programmes, vaccine safety, frequently asked questions, the importance of vaccination, vaccination coverage and recommendations by the Standing Committee on Vaccination at the Robert Koch Institute (STIKO). Disease-specific pages provide additional information on vaccine-preventable diseases. Visitors can access more information through links provided.
The Robert Koch Institute is the German federal institution responsible for disease control and prevention.
The site is updated on demand, at least once a year, and usually several times a year.
Date of primary evaluation : September 2004
Date of last evaluation: July 2007

Siemprevacunados
Spanish and Catalan
Audience: health-care professionals and members of the public, especially residents of Spain

Siemprevacunados.org is a web site of the Medical Association of Barcelona (COMB). It is funded by COMB and the European Commission project, Vaccine Safety - Attitudes, Training and Communication (VACSATC). It has the objective of providing useful information on immunization. The site includes official vaccination schedules and recommendations and links to other resources of interest.
The Medical Association of Barcelona promotes research and development in fields such as ethics, quality of health information and new communication technologies.
The web site is revised and updated on a quarterly basis. More regular updates are made if required.
Date of primary evaluation: September 2007

South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC)
English
Audience: health officials, health-care workers, scientists, academics and the vaccine industry.

The South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC) was established in 2003 as a network of partners in the field of vaccination, immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases, and is an academic-public alliance between the University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, and the University of Antwerp, Belgium, with the South African Department of Health.
The mission of SAVIC is to improve the health of future generations by strengthening immunization programmes and services. In order to achieve this, SAVIC advocates improved education and training in the fields of vaccination, immunization programmes and services, and the dissemination of information on the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), nationally and abroad.
The SAVIC web site aims to be a prime source of information for promoting awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases, supporting local and regional immunization initiatives and promoting the use and benefits of vaccines. The web site contains information on the main Expanded Programme on Immunization and other VPDs. Resources include the South African Vaccinator’s Manual and WHO publications such as the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) and documents on vaccine safety. Articles on studies conducted on VPDs with specific reference to South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa can be found in the reports and publications section.
The web site is updated on a monthly basis with relevant published articles, whilst the pages on diseases and vaccines are updated when necessary.
Date of primary evaluation: February 2007

United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
English
Audience: members of the public, health professionals, partnering organizations and the media

The CDC web site includes credible vaccine and immunization information and links to many resources including patient education and training materials. The vaccine safety section is extensive and well organized. Many publications and resources are available at no cost.
The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases is a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, located in Antlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Information on the CDC web site is reviewed and updated by program staff on an ongoing basis.
Date of first evaluation: December 2003Date of last evaluation: January 2010

Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
English, some Spanish resources
Audience: members of the public and health-care providers

VEC's website offers resources of special interest to all parents, including two videos, "Vaccines: separating fact from fear" that addresses common concerns regarding vaccine safety, and "Vaccines and your baby", designed for the new or expectant parent. The videos can be viewed on-line in their entirety or by individual segment, and are available in English and Spanish. The site also includes sections such as "Frequently asked questions" and "Hot topics", as well as "A look at each vaccine", which describes the disease that each vaccine is preventing, how the vaccine is made, and side effects of each vaccine.
The VEC was launched in October 2000 to provide accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information about childhood vaccines, and the diseases they prevent, to parents and health-care professionals. It is staffed by a team of scientists, physicians, mothers and fathers.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia holds the distinction of being the first hospital devoted exclusively to the care of children in the the United States of America.
Date of primary evaluation: July 2004
Date of last evaluation: December 2008

Vaccines for Africa
English
Audience: health-care professionals, parents, policy-makers, immunization programme managers, and the general public

The VACFA web site is intended to be an interactive forum for the exchange of accurate, up-to-date, evidence-based information on vaccines and immunization practices relevant to Africa.
The web site includes general information on immunization, information on specific vaccine-preventable diseases, structured information for health-care professionals, and information geared towards parents and the lay public. All information on the web site is free access. References are provided for all information on the site, with links to source materials. There are also links to other immunization web sites which may be of interest. VACFA has an advisory board composed of acknowledged experts on vaccine and immunization issues from across Africa.
VACFA was formed in 2008 because of the belief of those responsible for the site that effective communication is an essential component of national immunization programmes in Africa — facilitating the mobilization of resources, encouraging participation and ownership of immunization services among a range of stakeholders, and leading to positive changes in knowledge and attitudes towards immunization in Africa.
Individual articles on the site are updated within a month of new evidence becoming available. The news section is updated whenever news on vaccines and immunization issues relevant to Africa becomes available.
Date of primary evaluation: November 2009

Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB)
English
Audience: health professionals, policy-makers, and opinion leaders

The VHPB website offers unique resources related to the control and prevention of viral hepatitis, including articles and presentations from experts and conclusions of VHPB meetings, as well as links to other resources and organizations.
The VHPB Executive Secretariat is part of the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (University of Antwerp, Belgium) designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis.
Major updates of the web site occur approximately four times a year. Via the site, you can subscribe to an e-mail service in order to be informed when new information, mainly a new expert meeting or the latest issue of Viral Hepatitis, is made available online.
Date of primary evaluation: June 2004
Date of most recent evaluation: January 2009