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Electronic Sources These web sources provide authoritative up-to-date information on immunization and vaccines as they relate to health policy in both domestic (United States) and global terms. You will also find practical basic information and information on research, statistics.
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) Available at: http://www.vaccinealliance.org/home/index.php GAVI is an alliance between the public and private sector that has the common goal of eradicating preventable diseases throughout the world through the use of vaccines. Alliance members include The World Health Organization, UNICEF, The World Bank Group, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This web site has up-to-date and very informative information on the spread of preventable diseases, immunization programs in developing countries, vaccine-related health statistics, as well as very comprehensive and authoritative information on diseases and treatments.
The World Health Organization: Vaccines, Immunization and Biologicals Available at: http://www.who.int/vaccines/ The World Health Organization leads the world in vaccine and immunization promotion management, and implementation. This site provides a lot of useful information on WHO immunization programs, its vaccine research and development, and current news related to vaccines and preventable diseases. It also provides free WHO documents in PDF, including newsletters, training modules, and WHO’s Vaccine and Biological documents (available at http://www.who.int/vaccines-documents/).
Center for Disease Control: National Immunization Program Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ This site is a great source for useful information on vaccines and immunizations in the United States. It has important statistical information on vaccines in the U.S., such as, tables of vaccine coverage in the U.S., National Immunization Survey, School Vaccination Surveys, and data on vaccination coverage in specific states. There is also a CDC “Flu Season 2003-2004” (available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/Flu/default.htm) with comprehensive information on flu shot supplies, timing, contraindications, and so on. The CDC newsletters “Flu Bulletin” and “Immunization Works” are available for free (http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/newsletters.htm) on this web site.
Immunization Action Coalition Available at: http://www.immunize.org/ The Immunization Action Coalition is a “nonprofit organization (that) works to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for health professionals and the public that enhance the delivery of safe and effective immunization services.” The CDC says this web resource has “abundant useful information about immunization,” and it does. Under “Topics of Interest,” for instance, it has information on immunization disparities by age, bioterrorism and vaccines, and potential new vaccines. They publish and make available for free (PDF) on this site a resource called “Vaccinate Women” and one called “Vaccinate Adults.” Moreover, there is a great directory (available at: http://www.immunize.org/resources/contents.htm) with links to other excellent web sites on immunizations and vaccines, including one that has links to State Immunization Program websites, which has links to most of the states’ immunization requirements. |