Dear Fellow Parent (An Open Letter About Autism)
I don’t want to label you an “anti-vaxxer.” That term has so many negative associations, and there is a lot more to you than that…
Anal Cancer Awareness and HPV
Editor's Note: March 21, 2020 is Anal Cancer Awareness Month. HPV causes a majority (91%) of anal cancers and is preventable through vaccination. Thank you…
Losing a Child: Unless You Lived It, You Don’t Know What It’s Like
Every year on the anniversary of Kimberly's death, her mother, Patti, bakes Italian rainbow cookies and places them on the tiny beach she's created on…
I Got Myself Vaccinated
I am part of a family of five, and neither me nor my siblings received any childhood or adolescent vaccines. My mom is somewhat of…
Noah Needs Community Immunity
Noah was two years old when we noticed that something was terribly wrong. We took him to the emergency room one night because he was…
Children with Cancer Need Vaccinated Communities
I want to tell you about the children that are impacted by those who choose not to vaccinate—children like my 4 year old grandson who…
Monogamy is No Failsafe: HPV and Cervical Cancer
Editor's note: This post deals with sexual matters, including non-consensual sexual assault and may not be suited for all audiences. I will always advocate for…
A Pharmacist on the Value of Vaccines
Ever since I was a child, I hated needles. I think many people would say the same thing. Even as I went through pharmacy school…
Seriously, It’s Not Too Late to Get a Flu Shot
I've always felt that National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW, which is this week, falls strangely late in the year. The CDC advised everyone get their…
The Vaccine Trial
When I was pregnant I received a letter from the Oxford Vaccine Group asking me to enroll my unborn child in a meningococcal vaccine trial…