National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Encyclopedia
The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), formerly known as the National Immunization Program until April, 2006, is charged with responsibility for the planning, coordination, and conduct of immunization
activities in the United States
. NCIRD is a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, located in Atlanta, Georgia
, and housed in the CDC’s Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID). The National Center for Immunization provides consultation, training, statistical, promotional, educational, epidemiological
, and technical services to assist state and local health departments across the US in planning, developing, contracting and implementing immunization programs.
supply and distribution. NCIRD supports a national framework for surveillance
of diseases for which immunizing agents are increasingly becoming available from commercial pharmaceutical companies, and assists health departments in developing vaccine information management systems to facilitate identification of children whose parents may have not complied with local vaccination
laws. NCIRD helps parents and healthcare providers ensure compliance with vaccination laws so that all children without health or religious exemptions can be immunized at specific ages in full compliance with local laws. NCIRD also administers research and operational programs for the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases, assesses vaccination levels in state and local areas, and monitors the safety and efficacy
of vaccines by linking vaccine administration information with disease
outbreak patterns and adverse event
mandated reporting
requirements.
, MD, who earlier had been the director of the NIP since December, 2005. The changes will reorganize the NIP into five divisions and expand its activities. High visibility NIP activities have been retained, including its support for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) and Vaccines for Children Program
.
NCIRD's proposed mission is to prevent disease, disability, and death through immunization and control of respiratory and related diseases. The new center will support both domestic and global immunization and respiratory disease prevention and control priorities, and will link epidemiology and laboratory science around vaccine-preventable diseases and acute respiratory infections with prevention and control programs and strong communication science. NCIRD will also work within CDC to synthesize vaccine-related information from other parts of CDC with immunization expertise.
compliance, "I think we have a long way to go with adolescent immunization programs, as well as adult programs...There are so many opportunities for health impact in this group, and the new vaccines really offer us this whole new chance to revitalize health care
for adolescents and prevention as an adolescent health issue."http://www.idinchildren.com/200604/frameset.asp?article=leader.asp Incorporating new vaccines into routine practice is a big priority for the NCIRD under Dr. Shuchat's leadership.
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
activities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. NCIRD is a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, located in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, and housed in the CDC’s Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID). The National Center for Immunization provides consultation, training, statistical, promotional, educational, epidemiological
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
, and technical services to assist state and local health departments across the US in planning, developing, contracting and implementing immunization programs.
Mandate
NCIRD supports and supervises state and local agencies working on immunization activities and commercial contracting for vaccineVaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
supply and distribution. NCIRD supports a national framework for surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
of diseases for which immunizing agents are increasingly becoming available from commercial pharmaceutical companies, and assists health departments in developing vaccine information management systems to facilitate identification of children whose parents may have not complied with local vaccination
Vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
laws. NCIRD helps parents and healthcare providers ensure compliance with vaccination laws so that all children without health or religious exemptions can be immunized at specific ages in full compliance with local laws. NCIRD also administers research and operational programs for the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases, assesses vaccination levels in state and local areas, and monitors the safety and efficacy
Efficacy
Efficacy is the capacity to produce an effect. It has different specific meanings in different fields. In medicine, it is the ability of an intervention or drug to reproduce a desired effect in expert hands and under ideal circumstances.- Healthcare :...
of vaccines by linking vaccine administration information with disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
outbreak patterns and adverse event
Adverse effect (medicine)
In medicine, an adverse effect is a harmful and undesired effect resulting from a medication or other intervention such as surgery.An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect. If it results from an unsuitable or incorrect dosage or...
mandated reporting
Mandated reporter
In many U.S. states and Australia, mandated reporters are professionals who, in the ordinary course of their work and because they have regular contact with children, disabled persons, senior citizens, or other identified vulnerable populations, are required to report whenever financial, physical,...
requirements.
National Immunization Program reorganization
In April 2006, the National Immunization Program (NIP) became the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). NCIRD is led by Anne SchuchatAnne Schuchat
Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, M.D., is the current Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ....
, MD, who earlier had been the director of the NIP since December, 2005. The changes will reorganize the NIP into five divisions and expand its activities. High visibility NIP activities have been retained, including its support for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices provides advice and guidance on effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. civilian population. The ACIP develops written recommendations for routine administration of vaccines to the pediatric and adult populations, along with...
(ACIP) and Vaccines for Children Program
Vaccines for Children Program
The Vaccines for Children Program is a federally funded program in the United States providing no-cost vaccines to children who lack health insurance or who cannot otherwise afford the cost of the vaccination. The VFC program was created by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 and is...
.
NCIRD's proposed mission is to prevent disease, disability, and death through immunization and control of respiratory and related diseases. The new center will support both domestic and global immunization and respiratory disease prevention and control priorities, and will link epidemiology and laboratory science around vaccine-preventable diseases and acute respiratory infections with prevention and control programs and strong communication science. NCIRD will also work within CDC to synthesize vaccine-related information from other parts of CDC with immunization expertise.
NCIRD divisions
NCIRD will contain five divisions:- Division of Bacterial Diseases (DBD)
- Division of Viral Diseases (DVD)
- Global Immunization Division (GID)
- Immunization Services Division (ISD)
- Influenza Division (ID)
Roadmap to more robust vaccine programs
NCIRD director Schuchat has indicated a willingness to expand immunization surveillance and enforce vaccination scheduleVaccination schedule
A vaccination schedule is a series of vaccinations, including the timing of all doses, which may be either recommended or compulsory, depending on the country of residence....
compliance, "I think we have a long way to go with adolescent immunization programs, as well as adult programs...There are so many opportunities for health impact in this group, and the new vaccines really offer us this whole new chance to revitalize health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
for adolescents and prevention as an adolescent health issue."http://www.idinchildren.com/200604/frameset.asp?article=leader.asp Incorporating new vaccines into routine practice is a big priority for the NCIRD under Dr. Shuchat's leadership.
External links
- NCIRD web portal
- CDC.gov - 'National Immunization Program: leading the way to healthy lives' (official site for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases)
- HHS.gov - 'National Vaccine Program Office Immunization Laws', Centers for Disease Control
- IDInChildren.com - 'IDC talks with new NIP leader: Meet Anne Schuchat: She talks about the changes the NIP faces, the hot topics in immunization and what pediatricians can do to keep vaccine-preventable diseases at bay', Judith Rusk (April, 2006)