Resources for Parents

1. Vaccines are safe. They undergo years of safety and efficacy testing prior to licensure and are closely and indefinitely monitored after they are licensed to detect any safety concerns. Vaccines have been shown to not cause autism, either through thimerosal, specific vaccinations, combination vaccinations, or other actions. The vaccine-autism "link" is a disproven myth.

2. Vaccines are effective. Vaccine-preventable diseases still cause deaths in the United States and abroad, but the number of cases of vaccine-preventable disease reported annually in the United States has dropped 99-100% for most, and at least 87% for pertussis. Varicella, Rotavirus and Influenza still cause some deaths and many hospitalizations, though these should decrease with recent recommendations broadening the number of children and adults vaccinated against these diseases.

3. Vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat. Many countries around the world do not have high vaccine coverage rates or do not yet utilize newer vaccines, and imported cases of measles, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, and other illnesses are a very real concern with the ease of global travel. Imported cases of these diseases have occurred in the United States and small outbreaks have resulted. Complacency about vaccination, or refusal to vaccinate due to philosophical exemption or unfounded fears (of autism, for example) results in vulnerability to disease and the very real possibility of the re-establishment of these diseases in the United States. Other vaccine-preventable diseases (meningitis, for example) are still present in our communities and will once again become commonplace if vaccination rates fall.

Clear Answers & Smart Advice About Your Baby's Shots

by Ari Brown, MD, FAAP

As a new parent (or parent-to-be), it’s hard not to hear the great debate in parenting circles these days—do vaccines cause autism? If not, what causes autism? Why is it on the rise? And what is autism anyway?

Dr. Brown received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas; she did her pediatric residency at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children’s Hospital. In private practice since 1995, Dr. Brown is perhaps best known as the coauthor of Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year (Windsor Peak Press).

In response to the recent media attention given to vaccines, autism, and other controversies concerning vaccines, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has reprinted a special excerpt from Baby 411 that answers these questions and more. IAC is grateful to Dr. Brown for these clear answers and smart advice, but mostly, we are grateful for her continued advocacy for safe and effective vaccines.

The Today Show: Doctor disputes autism, vaccine link

In his book, “Autism's False Prophets,” Paul A. Offit, a national expert on vaccines, recounts the history of autism and challenges the idea that vaccines lead to autism.

Watch Video from The Today Show

Tips on easing fears of children

Chicago Tribune gives recommendations on how to "Make shot a blip in your day" by helping children take vaccinations in stride.

Full Article

Web Resources

Vaccinate Your Baby

When you vaccinate your baby, you're not only protecting your child, you're also doing your part to help stop the spread of these diseases in your community and worldwide.

Talking About Vaccine Safety with Parents and Patients

While the public health community continues to celebrate the great success of immunizations in keeping generations of children free from once-common childhood diseases, there?s evidence that public confidence in immunizations has started to erode.

In this two part series, Dr. Mark Sawyer from the San Diego Immunization Patrnership and UC San Diego School of Medicine talks about vaccine safety information for parents and patients.

Instant Childhood Immunization Scheduler

Get the best protection for your child—make sure your child is immunized on schedule. For a complete list of recommended immunizations, just select your child’s birth date.

Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases

Every Child By Two

Every Child By Two's mission is to protect all children from vaccine preventable diseases by raising parental awareness of the critical need for timely infant immunizations, fostering establishment of a systematic method to locate and immunize children, and providing convenient access to immunization services into the future

 

Immunization Action Coalition

Vaccination Information for Healthcare Professionals

ACIP Recommendations

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations on routine administration of vaccinations and vaccination schedules.

Vaccine Safety and Adverse Events

Resources relating to vaccine safety.

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Provides physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and others with the most comprehensive information on vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccines & Immunizations for Specific Groups of People

Many vaccines are routinely recommended for most people; these include polio, mumps, measles, rubella, and tetanus vaccines. Other vaccines are recommended for people because of their age, health, or circumstances.

Vaccines & Immunization News and Media Resources

Find news, newsletters and materials for the media.

National Network of Immunization Information

The National Network of Immunization Information (NNii) provides up-to-date, science-based immunization information.