ONA Position on Immunization
Developed: 2015
Reaffirmed by ONA BOD 6/2017, 6/2020

The Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) believes that immunization, from infancy through adulthood, is a
vital component of protecting the public’s health. Wide spread immunization not only protects those
that have been immunized, but also provides a measure of defense to those few persons who cannot
receive vaccination due to compromising health conditions.

The delivery of vaccines as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
is a safe, effective process for the vast majority of Americans. Adverse events associated with
vaccination are extremely rare, especially when compared to the protections conferred on the majority
(Maglione, M. A., et al, 2014).

ONA strongly supports immunization of all persons who are able to receive vaccines. Only a minority of
persons need to be exempted due to rare medical conditions, such as an immune-compromised state,
or religious objection.

While we may live in a world that supports individual choice and personal rights, we exist in a sea of
others who also deserve protection of their health. Very few persons live an isolated life such that their
actions have no impact on the well-being of others.

For further information, consult the list of references:
American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Infectious Diseases. (2015). Recommended childhood
and adolescent immunization schedule-United States, 2015. Pediatric. Vol. 135, No. 2. February 2015.
American Nurses Association. ANA Immunize. www.anaimmunize.org
American Nurses Association. (2015) Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
General recommendations on immunization. January 28, 2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report/Recommendations and Reports/Vol.60/No. 2.
Maglione, M., Das, L., Raaen, L., Smith, A., Chari, R., Newberry, S., Shanman, R., Perry, T., Goetz, M.,
Gidengil, C. (2014) Safety of vaccines used for routine immunizations of US children: a systematic
review. Pediatrics, 134(2), 325-337.
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. (2014). NAPNAP Position Statement on
Immunizations.
National Association of School Nurses. (January, 2015). Immunizations Position Statement.
Updated References (2020):
American Academy of Pediatrics: Committee on Infectious Diseases. (2020). Recommended childhood
and adolescent immunization schedule: United States, 2020. Pediatrics, 145(3), e20193995.
doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3995
American Nurses Association. ANA Immunize. www.anaimmunize.org.
American Nurses Association. (2015) Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements.
Eden, L., Cairns, C., Luthy, K. E., Koslap-Petraco, M., & National Association of Pediatric Nurse
Practitioners, Immunization Special Interest Group. (2018). NAPNAP position statement on
immunizations. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 32(6), A9-A11.
doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2018.07.002
Freedman, M. S., Hunter, P., Ault, K., & Kroger, A. (2020). Advisory committee on immunization practices
recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older – United States,
2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(5), 133-135.
doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6905a4
Maglione, M., Das, L., Raaen, L., Smith, A., Chari, R., Newberry, S., Shanman, R., Perry, T., Goetz, M., &
Gidengil, C. (2014) Safety of vaccines used for routine immunizations of US children: A
systematic review. Pediatrics, 134(2), 325-337
National Association of School Nurses. (January, 2020). Immunizations Position Statement.
Robinson, C. L., Bernstein, H., Poehling, K., Romero, J. R., & Szilagyi, P. (2020). Advisory committee on
immunization practices recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents
aged 18 years or younger – United States, 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report, 69(5), 130-132. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6905a3