Vaccines

As several measles outbreaks in the U.S. in recent years so vividly show us, vaccine-preventable diseases can be a threat to our health. APHA promotes immunization of the world's children as well as throughout the lifespan.

Do vaccines work? Think about it: In the decade before 1963 when a vaccine became available, nearly all children got measles by the time they were 15. Up to 4 million people in the United States were infected each year, 400-500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 4,000 suffered encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. Now, two doses of measles vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles if someone is exposed to the virus. Vaccines work!

From The Nation's Health:

• Public health messaging vital for COVID-19 vaccine uptake
• Americans urged to get flu vaccinations to prevent 'twindemic'
• HHS greenlights US pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccinations
• Public health ramps up for COVID-19 vaccination campaign: Agencies readying
• Vaccination coverage increases in California after exemptions end
• Vaccine exemptions scrutinized in wake of measles outbreaks
• Countering vaccine hesitancy with evidence-based decisions
• Outbreak of measles shows danger of vaccination exemptions

APHA advocacy:

• Updated letter to congressional leaders outlining funding priorities as the U.S. begins to prepare for the allocation, distribution and administration of a new COVID-19 vaccine (PDF)
• Letter to HHS and FDA outlining recommendations to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine (PDF)
• Organization letter to Congress (PDF) outlining top recommendations to stop current vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and prevent more from occurring

From APHA's Public Health Newswire:

• Which COVID-19 vaccine is best? All of them, say public health experts
• "The recent spate of measles cases is a wake-up call for Americans," says CDC Director Robert Redfield. 

Read the letter to President Trump (PDF) from national and state health organizations (including APHA) expressing unequivocal support for the safety of vaccines.

One way to counter misinformation about childhood vaccines: train parents to be immunization advocates.

Check out our vaccine-related resources

Top photo by Heather Hazzan, SELF Magazine. Find more great free use vaccination images online.

Why don't  people get vaccinated? Hear what Elmo and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy have to say about that....

Did you know....you have a 1 in 12,000 chance of getting hit by lightning, but only a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of having a reaction to a vaccine? Find out more in this infographic from the producers of the film "Vaccines — Calling the Shots."