See the science. Hear the stories. Make an informed decision.
You have the power to protect your child through routine childhood vaccinations. But before you take that step, you probably have questions. We’ve got real, unbiased answers that will help you separate fact from fiction. Learn why most adults support childhood vaccines and get the information you need to choose confidently.
Vaccines can save your child’s life
Vaccines help protect your child from diseases like measles, polio, and whooping cough that used to seriously harm or even kill thousands of people each year.source: 1,source: 2,source: 3
Vaccines are proven
Vaccines have been proven, over decades, to be one of the safest and most powerful disease-prevention tools available. While nothing in this world is 100% safe or effective, vaccine-related adverse events are extremely uncommon. All children’s vaccines are rigorously tested for safety and most have been around for decades.source: 4
92% of parents vaccinate their kids before kindergarten
Over 92% of parents make sure their children are up to date on routine vaccinations when they enter kindergarten, helping us leave diseases that once killed or disabled many people in the past.source: 5,source: 6
How do I know vaccines are safe for my child?
Vaccines are some of the most studied and successful medical interventions in the world. They go through extensive testing in clinical trials, which usually include thousands of volunteers.source: 7,source: 8 These studies are designed to look at a vaccine's safety and effectiveness. Once clinical trials are completed, the company submits an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval. FDA scientists and physicians conduct a thorough evaluation of the information, including how the vaccine is made, prior to approving it for use.source: 9 But the real proof is all around us: millions of children safely receive vaccines each year.source: 10
What is the science behind vaccines?
The science behind vaccines helps us understand how they work and why they are effective.
Vaccine-preventable diseases
Routine childhood vaccines help prevent the spread of illnesses that once killed or harmed many infants, children, and adults.source: 1,source: 3,source: 6
Vaccine schedule
Sticking to the vaccine schedule helps protect your child against more than a dozen diseases.source: 11,source: 12
Common questions
Most parents find that getting the real answers to their questions makes them feel confident about vaccinating their child on time.source: 13
More information
Sources
- HHS: Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child
- CDC: Reasons to Vaccinate
- American Academy of Pediatrics: 14 Diseases You Almost Forgot About Thanks to Vaccines
- CDC: How Vaccines are Developed and Approved for Use
- CDC: Vaccination Coverage and Exemptions among Kindergartners
- FDA: Vaccines Protect Children From Harmful Infectious Diseases
- CDC: Developing Safe and Effective Vaccines
- FDA: Vaccines for Children - A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
- FDA: Vaccine Development 101
- CDC: About Vaccines for your Children
- CDC: Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age
- CDC: Reasons to Follow CDC’s Recommended Immunization Schedule
- Academic Pediatrics: Increasing Vaccine Confidence Through Parent Education and Empowerment Using Clear and Comprehensible Communication