The current information cycle moves quickly, and the public needs resources that balance nuance with understandability while also addressing the rapid changes in the current immunization landscape. People also have preferences as to how they receive information. While one patient may prefer to get their health information from a provider, another may choose a newsletter or a website. And, based on a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, we know that 18- to 29-year-olds may be getting their health information from social media, as 75% of this group reported turning to social media at least occasionally for health information.
With this in mind, when you are looking for resources to recommend to patients, it is important to make sure that the information is not only factually accurate but is also at the appropriate level of detail they are seeking and delivered via the medium they prefer. Several groups, including the Vaccine Education Center (VEC), offer resources that can help you with these diverse needs. Indeed, the VEC has been working to expand the formats in which our information is offered. As our resources have expanded, we have found that some providers can’t find resources or aren’t sure how they can be used, so we wanted to share this quick primer. If you have questions that aren’t addressed here, please reach out, so we can help!
Resource highlights
The VEC has several websites and programs. Our primary content-based website can be found using the short URL, vaccine.chop.edu. This is where we have information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, vaccine safety (including about vaccine ingredients), vaccine science and history, the schedule (for all ages) and the immune system. But our materials and efforts go well beyond the website!
Vaccine Update is our program for healthcare providers. In addition to this newsletter, we offer webinars and resources that you can use at the point of care. The easiest way to find our resources is from this page. Once on the page, click on the box with the format of information that you are seeking to see the resources and in which languages they are available. Recently, people have been gravitating to our infographics and videos, but the Q&As, booklets and Special Topics sheets are also popular.
Parents PACK is our program for families. They can get monthly information on vaccines and infectious diseases through our newsletter, follow our podcast, find activities like trivia for kids, and more. Within this program, parents can get information the way they want it, when they want it. Check out these options:
- Parents PACK newsletter: Families that are interested in monthly updates regarding vaccines can get this email.
- VEC Vaccine Notes: A podcast with accompanying videos for families looking for information delivered in a way that fits their busy days.
- Vaccine Dictionary: Designed for people to quickly get context for words they are hearing related to vaccines. (See “Announcements” for more information.)
Hilleman is our program for science and history enthusiasts. This program offers a rich array of documentaries and scientists’ stories. A quarterly newsletter offers a deep dive into infectious diseases- and vaccine-related topics for those looking for more information.
Vaccine Makers Project is our program for students and classrooms. Resources from this program include animations and lesson plans with student-friendly activities that can be used for class presentations, community events, or to engage with patients.
Tips for using our materials
- You can photocopy almost all of our print materials for display or distribution. The exception is our “Vaccine Safety and Your Family” booklet since that copyright is held by Columbia University Press as it is an excerpt of the book, Vaccine and Your Family: Separating Fact from Fiction.
- You can also link to any of our materials on your websites or in electronic communications. You do not need to obtain permission to do this.
- If you use an electronic health record, use the platform’s shortcuts for documentation. This provides a standard and quick way to include VEC websites in after-visit summaries (i.e., ‘Dot’ phrases or SmartPhrases for Epic users, Patient Objects in CPRS, and AutoText in Cerner). Notably, it is better to link to materials than upload them into these platforms so that if we update the content, you will automatically be sharing the latest version.
- You can have our materials translated into the languages you need — just cite the VEC as the English content source and your translator as the source of the translated information.
- You can take articles from the Parents PACK or from our website content and use them in your own communications as long as you cite us as the source. For this reason, some providers register for the Parents PACK newsletter, so they get it each month and can pass on the information as a trusted messenger.
- Since Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) are legally required to be given with each dose of vaccine, you must give those, but some providers offer our Q&As along with the VIS if families are seeking more information than found on the VIS.
- You can order many of our materials at low cost if you prefer color, printed copies.
- If you work at an institution that requires branding or co-branding, you can add “Provided by” stickers or stamps to the materials you disseminate.
- We also offer a handful of materials for free to make it simple for you to direct families to our resources. Check out the 4”x6” website cards, which come in packs of 50. These can be provided during a visit or placed in a waiting area. Likewise, our “prescription for information” pads allow you to “prescribe” that a patient or family look at particular materials on our website. This allows you to direct them to particular resources that are related to their specific questions. The pads come in English and Spanish.
- As a reminder, our websites include “contact us” forms, so you, your colleagues or your patients can email us vaccine-related questions.
Today’s information environment is complicated and messy. Not all available information is accurate. This makes it all the more important to understand your patients’ health information habits, so you can direct them to reliable information in a format that meets their needs. We’re here to help you as you help them!
The current information cycle moves quickly, and the public needs resources that balance nuance with understandability while also addressing the rapid changes in the current immunization landscape. People also have preferences as to how they receive information. While one patient may prefer to get their health information from a provider, another may choose a newsletter or a website. And, based on a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, we know that 18- to 29-year-olds may be getting their health information from social media, as 75% of this group reported turning to social media at least occasionally for health information.
With this in mind, when you are looking for resources to recommend to patients, it is important to make sure that the information is not only factually accurate but is also at the appropriate level of detail they are seeking and delivered via the medium they prefer. Several groups, including the Vaccine Education Center (VEC), offer resources that can help you with these diverse needs. Indeed, the VEC has been working to expand the formats in which our information is offered. As our resources have expanded, we have found that some providers can’t find resources or aren’t sure how they can be used, so we wanted to share this quick primer. If you have questions that aren’t addressed here, please reach out, so we can help!
Resource highlights
The VEC has several websites and programs. Our primary content-based website can be found using the short URL, vaccine.chop.edu. This is where we have information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, vaccine safety (including about vaccine ingredients), vaccine science and history, the schedule (for all ages) and the immune system. But our materials and efforts go well beyond the website!
Vaccine Update is our program for healthcare providers. In addition to this newsletter, we offer webinars and resources that you can use at the point of care. The easiest way to find our resources is from this page. Once on the page, click on the box with the format of information that you are seeking to see the resources and in which languages they are available. Recently, people have been gravitating to our infographics and videos, but the Q&As, booklets and Special Topics sheets are also popular.
Parents PACK is our program for families. They can get monthly information on vaccines and infectious diseases through our newsletter, follow our podcast, find activities like trivia for kids, and more. Within this program, parents can get information the way they want it, when they want it. Check out these options:
- Parents PACK newsletter: Families that are interested in monthly updates regarding vaccines can get this email.
- VEC Vaccine Notes: A podcast with accompanying videos for families looking for information delivered in a way that fits their busy days.
- Vaccine Dictionary: Designed for people to quickly get context for words they are hearing related to vaccines. (See “Announcements” for more information.)
Hilleman is our program for science and history enthusiasts. This program offers a rich array of documentaries and scientists’ stories. A quarterly newsletter offers a deep dive into infectious diseases- and vaccine-related topics for those looking for more information.
Vaccine Makers Project is our program for students and classrooms. Resources from this program include animations and lesson plans with student-friendly activities that can be used for class presentations, community events, or to engage with patients.
Tips for using our materials
- You can photocopy almost all of our print materials for display or distribution. The exception is our “Vaccine Safety and Your Family” booklet since that copyright is held by Columbia University Press as it is an excerpt of the book, Vaccine and Your Family: Separating Fact from Fiction.
- You can also link to any of our materials on your websites or in electronic communications. You do not need to obtain permission to do this.
- If you use an electronic health record, use the platform’s shortcuts for documentation. This provides a standard and quick way to include VEC websites in after-visit summaries (i.e., ‘Dot’ phrases or SmartPhrases for Epic users, Patient Objects in CPRS, and AutoText in Cerner). Notably, it is better to link to materials than upload them into these platforms so that if we update the content, you will automatically be sharing the latest version.
- You can have our materials translated into the languages you need — just cite the VEC as the English content source and your translator as the source of the translated information.
- You can take articles from the Parents PACK or from our website content and use them in your own communications as long as you cite us as the source. For this reason, some providers register for the Parents PACK newsletter, so they get it each month and can pass on the information as a trusted messenger.
- Since Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) are legally required to be given with each dose of vaccine, you must give those, but some providers offer our Q&As along with the VIS if families are seeking more information than found on the VIS.
- You can order many of our materials at low cost if you prefer color, printed copies.
- If you work at an institution that requires branding or co-branding, you can add “Provided by” stickers or stamps to the materials you disseminate.
- We also offer a handful of materials for free to make it simple for you to direct families to our resources. Check out the 4”x6” website cards, which come in packs of 50. These can be provided during a visit or placed in a waiting area. Likewise, our “prescription for information” pads allow you to “prescribe” that a patient or family look at particular materials on our website. This allows you to direct them to particular resources that are related to their specific questions. The pads come in English and Spanish.
- As a reminder, our websites include “contact us” forms, so you, your colleagues or your patients can email us vaccine-related questions.
Today’s information environment is complicated and messy. Not all available information is accurate. This makes it all the more important to understand your patients’ health information habits, so you can direct them to reliable information in a format that meets their needs. We’re here to help you as you help them!