Before They Were Preventable
When I was eleven years old I learned why my maternal grandmother and my mother have always been vehemently pro-vaccine. It was the day I…
Dr. Offit Talks Measles
Thus far in 2019, the United States has experienced nearly 1,000 cases of measles--and we can expect more. But when can we expect the outbreaks…
Celebrating 25 Years: NIIW and Measles Outbreaks
The saying goes, "What's old is new again." As National Infant Immunization Week turns 25 years old, the United States is seeing more measles cases…
Can We Get Rid of Measles Once and for All?
My brother, who is six years older than I am, has a scar where his smallpox vaccine was administered when he was a child. I…
Autism’s Professor Harold Hill
It's hard to talk about vaccines or autism without mentioning the sometime gastroenterologist, Andrew Wakefield. Almost everyone has at least a passing familiarity with Wakefield,…
Measles in Minnesota
Yesterday afternoon, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that 60 people (mostly children) in four counties across the state. This measles outbreak is the worst…
What’s up with All These Outbreaks?
A few months ago, I came across an article claiming that we can blame the anti-vaccine movement for the mumps cases popping up in college…
Being the Odd Mom Out in a Low Vax Community
As my child turns two this year, I’m looking back at some of the earlier memories I have of motherhood. During pregnancy, I recall one…
How Effective Are Childhood Vaccines?
Modern vaccines are very effective. But nothing is 100% effective. As people know, children can – sadly – be harmed in a car accident even…
I Vaccinate My Kids Because I Wish My Parents Had Vaccinated Me
My name is Grace. I was raised in a cult. There are a lot of things wrong with being raised in a cult— religious brainwashing,…