Is the childhood vaccination schedule safe?

In a new video, Dr. Pierre Kory claims that vaccines are not safe, are based on myths, and have harmed children’s health, so he doesn’t recommend any vaccines from the CDC schedule.

In this video, Kory cites Turtles All the Way Down. This book is edited by Mary Holland, a lawyer at RFK Jr’s Children’s Health Defense, and Zoey O’Toole, co-founder of another anti-vaccine group. Many of its claims are rooted in the broader anti-vaccine movement, which often contradicts scientific consensus.

Dr. Frank Han at Science-Based Medicine does an excellent job of reviewing the book here. He explains some of the biggest problems in the book:

• Misrepresentation of Epidemiology: The book distorts basic epidemiological concepts, leading readers to doubt the validity of studies showing vaccine safety and effectiveness. For example, it falsely implies that epidemiological studies cannot rule out causal links between vaccines and adverse events for individuals. However, The National Academies of Science says, “While epidemiological studies are a powerful tool in understanding the associations between vaccines and adverse events, they cannot entirely rule out the possibility of a causal link at the individual level. This limitation is often misrepresented in public discourse, leading to an exaggerated perception of risk.”
• VAERS Misinterpretation: The book criticizes the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) by focusing on its limitations without acknowledging that VAERS is not meant to function alone. The book suggests that VAERS is “deficient by design,” ignoring the fact that it is part of a larger system of vaccine safety monitoring that includes more robust databases and active surveillance systems.
• Cherry-Picking Data: The book selectively uses data to support its arguments while ignoring the broader context of vaccine safety research. It brings up debunked claims, such as those linking vaccines to autism and SIDS, without acknowledging the extensive evidence refuting these connections.

Using that book as a reference doesn’t help you make informed decisions about vaccination for yourself and your family. It’s even more worrying when a doctor uses a source like this to influence others.