Vaccine Information for Parents, Patients, and Health Care Providers

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of medical and public health experts, develops recommendations on how to use currently licensed vaccines to control diseases in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control publishes the ACIP recommendations.

Following the recommended immunization schedule offers the best protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The vaccine schedule is based on the best scientific information available.
There is no science behind alternative immunization schedules. Delaying or withholding vaccines only increases the amount of time that an individual is vulnerable to diseases.

All vaccines used in the U.S. are required to go through years of extensive safety testing before they are licensed by the U.S. food and Drug Administration. Three systems are used to carefully monitor the safety of vaccines after they are licensed. One of the three systems is called the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and it accepts reports from healthcare professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and the general public.

About 85 to 90 percent of the adverse events that occur after vaccination are mild and may include fever, vaccination side redness or swelling, and mild irritability.
A recent study of VAERS data shows that less than 3% of adverse reaction reports from vaccines are actually found to be related to the vaccine.
Vaccine Safety
Vaccine Ingredients
Institute for Vaccine Safety

Immunization Schedules

Children

Adults

Adult Immunization Schedule

General Immunization Schedule Information

Travel Vaccinations

To learn more about travel vaccines go to the CDC’s Travelers’ Health website. Alaska’s Public Health Centers do not offer travel vaccines, but there are many healthcare facilities that do offer them. The healthcare facilities that have an authorized Yellow Fever Provider, might carry the travel vaccine you are looking for and are listed on the CDC Yellow Fever Registry. Please call the clinic to verify they carry the vaccine you are looking for and any requirements needed to obtain the vaccine.

Yellow Fever

According to International Health Regulations, the yellow fever vaccine must be administered by a certified Yellow Fever Provider. Healthcare providers currently licensed in Alaska can apply to become a Yellow Fever Provider for Alaska. Please contact the State of Alaska Yellow Fever Coordinator at immune@alaska.gov or 907-269-8088 for more information.

To find a facility that is authorized to administer the yellow fever for Alaska, please check the CDC Yellow Fever Registry.

Every healthcare provider, in all settings, has a fundamental responsibility to ensure that all patients are up-to-date with respect to recommended immunizations. Part of routine clinical care should include an assessment of a patient's immunization status and a recommendation to the patient and/or patient's caregiver for needed vaccines. To find out more information on practice standards for all healthcare professionals click on the image to the left.

Resources

Alaska Immunization Helpline
Phone: 907-269-8088
Phone: 888-430-4321 (toll free)
Email: immune@alaska.gov