With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic encompassing almost all facets of life, there has been a lot of chatter recently about when a potential coronavirus vaccine might become available.
Although a potential coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine is currently being developed and worked upon by multiple companies and agencies, COVID-19 is providing a reminder with what life is like whenever a vaccine isn’t available for just one disease. This dilemma serves as a reminder to remain vigilant on staying informed about vaccines that are already available.
For individuals who want to self-educate about vaccines but don’t know where to start, the list below contains five suggestions on which resources to access to learn more about vaccines.
TIP: for another list of helpful resources regarding vaccines, see this list from Vincent Iannelli, M.D, a board-certified pediatrician.
1. Learning Which Vaccines You (& Your Family) May Need
Inferably from its name, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an essential place to look for vaccine-related information in the United States. Most importantly, the CDC provides specific guidance on which vaccines are needed for different types of people and why they are important.
Vaccine “schedules” are updated annually and they are available for different age ranges: infants and children (age 0-6 years), adolescents and teens (age 7-18 years), and adults. For tech savvy individuals, this information is also available in app form. Additionally, the CDC provides information about recommended vaccines for travelers, healthcare workers, pregnant patients, individuals who are in close proximity to newborns, immigrants and refugees, etc.
FAST FACT: The CDC also provides an interactive guide to learn about vaccines, tidbits about the diseases they protect against, and how they are applicable to different stages of life.
Aside from the CDC, Vaccinate Your Family is another helpful resource for families looking for information about vaccines. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia also provides a helpful array of general vaccine information (also complete with an app).
2. Learning Details About Specific Vaccines
The Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (13th Edition) resource document from the CDC has a fun nickname – the Pink Book. The Pink Book contains information about currently-available vaccines, what they are, and what to know about the diseases they protect against.
This resource is typically tailored towards healthcare professionals. However, the Pink Book contains valuable information for non-healthcare professionals as well. The latest edition of the Pink Book was published in 2015, and it currently has 22 chapters.
Highlighting relevant chapters that are approachable for non-healthcare professionals, Chapter 1 dissects vaccine fundamentals and what they consist of. Chapters 7-22 evaluate current vaccines in terms of epidemiology, what they protect against, clinical features, disease trends, benefits, risks, etc. For some examples, Chapter 10 discusses the Hepatitis B vaccine, Chapter 12 discusses the influenza (flu) vaccine, and Chapter 21 discusses the tetanus vaccine.
Pink Book aside, all vaccines should be administered alongside a Vaccine Information Statement (VIS). Similarly to how prescription medicines and vaccines are required to have a FDA-approved package insert (see a prior Pharmacist Consult article for more information about package inserts), vaccines are also required to have a VIS.
A VIS is a brief formal document that describes a specific vaccine, discusses its benefits and risks, and it provides the patient with other things to know about the vaccine. These handouts are typically given to patients whenever a vaccine is administered. However, through the CDC and FDA, these documents are also available to access online.
3. Utilizing the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) & the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
For a brief description, “the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), a non-profit organization, works to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for health professionals and the public that enhance delivery of safe and effective immunization services. IAC also facilitates communication about the safety, efficacy, and use of vaccines within the broad immunization community of patients, parents, healthcare organizations, and government health agencies.”
The IAC is another tool to utilize for credible information about vaccines. By sifting through the IAC’s website, readers learn about vaccine basics (how vaccines work, the importance of vaccines, how to pay for vaccines, vaccine safety, state immunization programs, where to get vaccinated, FAQ’s, etc). Readers also learn about specific information for infants and children, preteens, teens, and adults. Similarly, the IAC provides a background on the diseases themselves that vaccines protect against.
Similarly, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides comparable information to the IAC through its vaccine website. This resource also discusses vaccine basics, vaccines by disease state, and it provides information relevant to different groups of people.
4. Learning Where Vaccine Recommendations Come From
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is the group that provides the CDC with recommendations about vaccinations. The ACIP’s recommendations ultimately end up becoming incorporated into the vaccine schedules mentioned above.
Regarding the process, the ACIP’s recommendations are forwarded to CDC’s Director for approval. Once ACIP recommendations have been reviewed and approved, they are published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The MMWR publication represents the final and official CDC recommendations for immunizations in the United States. The MMWR is also considered to be the “voice of the CDC”.
FAST FACT: if you are curious to read through information about potential new vaccine research, that is accessible through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
5. Counteracting Questions Against Vaccines
There are numerous voices that provide arguments against vaccines, and those arguments are primarily rooted in opinion, social exchanges, and personal experiences.
Some helpful guidance to better understand common concerns about vaccines are provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, Cureus, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, and PublicHealth.
FYI: one of the common concerns regarding vaccines relates to inactive ingredients. A future Pharmacist Consult article will demonstrate how to find and locate inactive ingredients for specific vaccines.
Resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accessed 4 April 2020.
- Immunization Action Coalition (IAC). Accessed 4 April 2020.
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