Jun 24, 2021
Why we vaccinate children
Safe and effective shots help provide immunity before babies are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases
Vaccination is one of the greatest advancements in public health, saving hundreds of millions of lives in the past century. Highly effective and safe vaccines are available to prevent measles and other common childhood diseases starting at infancy, and a COVID vaccine is available now for kids 12 and older.
A Coverage series features the voices of parents, clinicians, and loved ones of those who suffered from illnesses that vaccines have since made rare, including measles, smallpox, polio and meningitis B. Their words offer a powerful reminder of the vital importance of vaccination.
Why I vaccinated my child
Five parents share their reasons for making sure their kids are protected against measles and other infectious diseases
Life before vaccines: Measles
A sister’s story: A rash, a fever, encephalitis and lifelong damage in the era before vaccination
Life before vaccines: Meningitis
‘There is not one hour that goes by that I don’t think about her’: A mother’s story
Life before vaccines: Diphtheria
A public health historian describes the horrific effects of ‘throat distemper’
Life before vaccines: Smallpox
A medical breakthrough ended a disease that had killed 300 million worldwide
Facts about vaccination
Why do babies need so many vaccines?
Pediatricians explain the vaccine schedule, and why it saves lives.
How vaccines work
An easy-to-follow guide to how inactivated viruses can spur your body’s natural immune system and safely fight disease
How does an mRNA vaccine work?
A clinician explain how the new mRNA vaccines safely and effectively protect you from COVID-19
How the COVID-19 vaccine protects kids
Dr. Mary Brown, a pediatrician at Tufts Children’s Hospital, answers some of parents’ most common questions, including: Is the vaccine really safe for kids? Can it change my child’s DNA? And is it really necessary?
WATCH: ‘I’m going to get to hug my friends again
Six tweens and teens recently shared with Coverage their reasons for getting vaccinated and how their lives have changed since getting the shot.
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