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Jun 24, 2021

Why we vaccinate children

Jennifer Miller

Safe and effective shots help provide immunity before babies are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases

Jennifer Miller | News Service of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

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

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: Polio

Life before vaccines: Polio

From playing football, to iron lung: One man’s story

Life before vaccines: Measles

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

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

Life before vaccines: Diphtheria

A public health historian describes the horrific effects of ‘throat distemper’

Life before vaccines: Smallpox

Life before vaccines: Smallpox

A medical breakthrough ended a disease that had killed 300 million worldwide


Facts about vaccination

babies vaccine

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

Kids Vaccine

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.

Did you find this health news helpful?

All Coverage content can be reprinted for free.

Read more here.

tags: children health vaccine immunization life before vaccine

A NEWS SERVICE OF

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

® ´, TM, SM Registered, Service, and Trade Marks are the property of their respective owners. © 2019 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc..,

and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.

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