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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  February 01, 2006. 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 Vacunología
Spanish, news items available in English
Audience: members of the public and health-care professionals
This website includes a large section of vaccine safety information, including discussion of misinformation. Many quality links are provided. Although the organization is Spanish, resources (such as vaccine schedules) are included for other European nations and the United States of America. Health-care providers can submit immunization questions to an expert panel.
Ascociación Espanola de Vacunologia is a nonprofit medical/scientific professional organization, the ultimate goal of which is to improve health by preventing infectious diseases through immunization.
Date of last evaluation: June 2004

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: September 2005

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
This website provides detailed information about childhood immunization. Information is provided in the form of position statements that are developed by the CPS Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee, and reviewed by our board of directors.
All statements on this site are current. Each year, CPS committees review position statements, and recommend that they be either reaffirmed, revised, or retired. Retired statements are removed from the website.
The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national advocacy association committed to the health needs of children and youth. As a voluntary professional association, the CPS represents more than 2 200 paediatricians, paediatric sub-specialists, paediatric residents, and other child health- care providers.
The CPS website is updated on a daily basis.
Date of last evaluation: August 2005

Catalogue et Index des Sites Médicaux Francophones (CISMeF)
French
Audience: health professionals, researchers, and members of the public
CISMeF is a quality-controlled subject gateway with the objective of describing and indexing the main French language health resources to assist health professionals and consumers in their search for electronic information.
CISMeF has three priority axes: evidence- based medicine, teaching and patient information, and also includes a list of clinical guidelines and consensus development conferences, hospitals, medical universities, health institutions, medical libraries, medical publishers, electronic journals, electronic textbooks, databases, teaching and continuing medical education, mailing lists, research laboratories and institutes, pharmaceutical firms, health and patient associations, and commercial companies in the health sector.
CISMeF is a project of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen and partners.
Date of last evaluation: July 2004

Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia Sorveglianza, Promozione della Salute, Instituto Superiore di Sanita (EpiCentro)
Italian
Audience : health-care professionals, physicians, veterinary surgeons, nurses and any other technical or counselling professionals working in health institutions at the national, regional or local level. Regular visitors also include family associations and the general public.
EpiCentro is the website of the National Center of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion (Cnesps) of the National Institute of Health (ISS) in Italy. Targeted mainly at health-care professionals, the objective of the website is to provide access to epidemiological information while, at the same time, facilitating resource-sharing at a local level. The EpiCentro homepage contains information on diverse public health issues.
The ISS's National Center of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion promotes research and development in the fields of epidemiology and biostatistics. At the same time, the center has, as an objective, the application of research findings to public health programs aimed at protecting human health and assessing health services.
The EpiCentro hompage is updated on a weekly basis.
Date of last evaluation : July 2005

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: January 2006

Children's Vaccine Program (CVP) - a PATH program
English, many materials available in French, Russian and Spanish
Audience: immunization decision-makers and program managers, health-care providers and parents
The mission of PATH's CVP is to promote equal access to new vaccines worldwide. The Resource Center of the website gathers hundreds of materials from many reliable sources. Downloads include background documents, decision-making tools, presentations, educational materials for parents, and training curricula. Key topic areas covered in the site are vaccines and diseases of special global interest (including hepatitis B, Hib, Japanese encephalitis, pneumococcus, yellow fever, and rotavirus), immunization training, immunization financing, injection safety, immunization advocacy, and immunization service delivery. PATH is an international, non-profit organization.
Date of last evaluation: September 2004

Department of Health, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
English, with some brochures available in 19 additional languages
National Health Service Immunisation Information
Audience: patients, parents and health professionals, especially residents of the United Kingdom
This website was designed to answer parental and health professionals' queries and concerns about vaccination and includes sections on the importance, safety, timing, composition, history and development and testing of vaccines. Includes details of the diseases and vaccines that are part of the childhood immunisation schedule in the United Kingdom. A "Breaking News" section provides links to new studies, reports, and recommendations.
Date of last evalution: June 2004
MMR the facts
Audience: parents, providers, and the media, especially residents of the United Kingdom
This website has been developed to answer questions about MMR, especially concerns about safety. It features an MMR library, an expert panel to answer questions, a collection of news stories and Frequently Asked Questions, and global information about MMR use.
Date of last evaluation: November 2004
These websites are published by the United Kingdom Department of Health and National Health Service.

Division of Viral Hepatitis, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
English version
Spanish version
Audience: members of the public and health-care professionals
This United States government website provides information on hepatitis A-E, including fact sheets, "Frequently Asked Questions", brochures, recommendations, slide shows, and on-line training.
The Division of Viral Hepatitis is part of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Health and Human Services.
Date of last evaluation: December 2003

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 last evaluation: November 2004

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 last evaluation: May 2004

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: November 2005
IAC vaccine information
English, some printed material available in up to 17 additional languages
Audience: patients and parents
This website features sections on 18 vaccine-preventable diseases, each of which includes a "Questions & Answers" page, photos, journal articles, recommendations, case reports, resources, and related links. The “Concerned about vaccines?” section covers vaccine safety concerns, and also religious and ethical objections to vaccination, alternative medicine, and tips on evaluating immunization information on the internet. The site also includes a large collection of photographs and video clips related to vaccine-preventable diseases.
Date of primary evaluation: December 2003
Date of most recent evaluation: November 2005
IAC is a nonprofit organization.
Both of the above listed websites are updated as soon as new material becomes available, usually several times a week. Both websites are maintained by the Immunization Action Coalition; some sections are shared between the sites (e.g., the photo and video pages), but each is considered a separate site with its own intended audience.

Murcia Salud
Spanish
Region of Murcia Public Health, Spain
Audience : health professionals and the public
This website´s mission 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 schedules, publications of interest, vaccination campaigns, coverage, quality links, and many Q & A pages on the history, concept, effectiveness and safety of vaccines.
The Murcia Salud website is maintained by the Regional Government of Murcia.
Date of last evaluation: October 2004

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 : April 2006

National Immunization Program (NIP), United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
English version
Spanish version
Audience: members of the public, health professionals, partnering organizations and the media
The NIP website 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.
NIP is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention located in Antlanta, Georgia.
Date of last evaluation: December 2003

National Network for Immunization Information (NNii)
English
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: December 2005

Network for Education and Support in Immunisation (NESI)
English and French
Audience: governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and training institutions for health professionals
The Network for Education and Support in Immunisation aims to improve the launch, quality and sustainability of immunisation programmes and services in low and middle-income countries, particularly through education and training. The website includes resources for education, training, and technical support.
NESI focuses primarily on pre-service training, particularly on the revision of curricula for nurses, doctors, pharmacists, public health workers, and other related professionsals.
NESI is a public-private partnership between the University of Antwerp and the private sector. Whilst activities are currently focused in Africa, there are plans to extend assistance to health personnel in the Eastern Mediterranean and Southern Asia regions in the near future.
NESI activities are closely coordinated with the World Health Organization and other partners of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
Date of last evaluation: October 2004

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 last evaluation: February 2005

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 last evaluation: November 2004

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.
Date of last evaluation: February 2005

Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
German, some background information available in English
Audience: general public, health-care providers and political decision-makers
The RKI website includes original articles on vaccine safety, Frequently asked questions, vaccination rates, and recommendations by the Standing Committee on Vaccination at the Robert Koch Institute (STIKO). Visitors can access more quality information through links provided or via the search engine.
The Robert Koch Institute is the German federal institution responsible for disease control and prevention.
Date of last evaluation: September 2004

Sabin Vaccine Institute
Audience: governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, non-profit organizations and immunization consumers
The Sabin Vaccine Institute website has an international scope, with a focus on selected diseases. The site includes some unique vaccine safety resources, including audio discussions of vaccine safety issues with experts and a supportive "Open statement on vaccines," signed by experts in the field. The "search" feature can be used to call up many articles on vaccine safety from Sabin publications.
The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to carrying on the work of Dr Albert Sabin. The Institute promotes rapid scientific advances in vaccine development, delivery, and distribution worldwide.
Date of last evaluation: September 2004

Todosvacunados
Spanish
Audience: general public and health professionals
Todosvacunados.com provides factual information about vaccines for patients and their primary care practitioners. The site provides: vaccine schedules for various groups, including travelers; links to Spanish government sites and international organizations; current information on vaccine safety issues of interest, and more. Visitors can also have a question answered by an expert via email.
Todosvacunados is a non-profit-making multidisciplinary team which includes specialists from the areas of family medicine, paediatrics, psychology, ethics, the internet, and marketing. Todosvacunados.com counts on the support of several scientific organizations.
Date of last evaluation: January 2005

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 last evaluation: July 2004

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: December 2005