About the Immunization Safety Office (ISO)

CDC's Immunization Safety Office plays a vital role in ensuring our nation’s vaccine safety.

Sound immunization policies affecting children and adults in the U.S. depend on continuous monitoring of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.  CDC uses many strategies to assess vaccine safety, to identify health problems possibly related to vaccines, and to conduct studies that help determine whether a health problem is caused by a specific vaccine. CDC also works with other federal government agencies and other stakeholders to determine the appropriate public health response to vaccine safety concerns and to communicate the benefits and risks of vaccines.

The Immunization Safety Office regularly reports on vaccine safety monitoring findings and any concerns to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This advisory group develops the recommended vaccine schedule for children and adults in the U.S.  ACIP considers the safety and effectiveness of vaccines before making recommendations to the vaccine schedule or changing recommendations for vaccine use.

Read more:

• How Does CDC Monitor Vaccine Safety?
• History of Vaccine Safety