MyTabstart > Favorites Directory > Health > Pros and Cons of Vaccinating your Children
While much of the research that links vaccines to autism and other developmental disorders has been discredited, many parents still have concerns over the safety of vaccines. Vaccinating children had become a very heated debate pitting parents' rights against the community's common good. This TabStart page provides information on both sides of the argument to help parents make an informed decision for their families and communities.
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Center for Disease Control - The Department of Health and Human Services provides information on vaccines and immunization topics, including: FAQs, safety and side effects, and recommendations.
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American Academy of Pediatrics - This vaccine resource guide for parents includes vaccine saftey facts, family resources, and immunization schedules.
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The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - The Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explains how vaccines work, how they are made, who recommends vaccines, when they should be given, if they are still necessary, and, most importantly, if they are safe.
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Parents PACK - Parents PACK — Possessing, Accessing and Communicating Knowledge about vaccines — was established by the Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It provides families with up-to-date information and answers about vaccines, helps develop a dialogue with you about vaccines, and provides you with vaccine information more regularly than your family's doctor visits.
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The History of Vaccines - The History of Vaccines is an informational and educational website about vaccination. The site aims to increase public knowledge and understanding of the ways in which vaccines and immunization work, how they have been developed, and the role they have played in the improvement of human health.
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Interview with Robert W. Sears, M.D. - Robert W. Sears is a practicing pediatrician and author of "The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child." His interview discusses how his alternative vaccination schedule differs from the CDC's; his approach to parents who are vaccine skeptics; his alternative schedule's impact on the herd immunity concept; and, why vaccines should be optional for parents.
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Should I vaccinate my baby? - This CNN Health article discusses alternative vaccine schedules and offers advice on how to discuss this with your pediatrician.
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Vaccines: Separating fact from fiction - In layman terms CNN and Parenting.com debunk many myths accociated with vaccination including vaccines link to autism.
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Seth Mnookin: The Panic Virus - Forum with Michael Krasney interviews author Seth Mnookin whose new book, "The Panic Virus: A True Story of Science, Medicine and Fear," investigates the origins of the controversy over autism and vaccines, and the impacts it has had on public health.
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The Vaccine War - This "Frontline" special tackles the very heated vaccine debate. Medical risks, health benefits, a parent's right to make choices for her child, and a community's common good are all examined.
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Generation Rescue - Generation Rescue, an organization affiliated with Jenny McCarthy, provides guidance and support for medical treatment for families with children with autism spectrum disorders. Their vaccination page provides information on education, vaccine ingrediants and side effects, and recommended medical partners.
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A Dose of Reason - This article, adapted from the book "The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear" by Seth Mnookin, chronicles the vaccine phobia in the author's peer group.
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How The 'Pox' Epidemic Changed Vaccination Rules - Terry Gross interviews author Michael Willrich about his new book "Pox: An American History," which looks at the history of civil liberties and vaccines and offers parallels with the controversy of vaccination today.
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No Bones About It! Seth Mnookin and Paul A. Offit - Guest host, George Wohlreich, MD, Director and CEO of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, interviews Paul Offit, MD and Seth Mnookin. The History of Vaccines brought the two authors to The College for a lecture on March 1.
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Resources from Frontline's "The Vaccine War" - Listed resources include information from the public health sector, concerned parents, and austism activists.
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Vaccine Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Gove... - The official website for the book, "Vaccine Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health and Our Children."
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Center for Personal Rights - The Center for Personal Rights is a civil rights organization promoting individual and parental autonomy for vaccination and healthcare decisions.
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Vaccine Exemption Forms - A list of links for vaccine exemption forms by state and country.
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Lancet Retracts Controversial Autism Paper - News story chronicling the retraction of Dr. Andrew Wakefield's study linking the MMR vaccine to autism.
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Autism One - Autism One is a nonprofit organization started by parents of children with autism. This site has a generous library of articles, videos, and blogs pertaining to vaccination.
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Age of Autism - A dialy web newspaper of the autism epidemic, which has strong opinions about vaccines and autism and posts by Dr. Andrew Wakefield.
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Autism Science Foundation - The Autism Science Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by parents and scientists, supports autism research, provides information about autism to the general public, and serves to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the needs of those affected by autism.
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The end of the autism/vaccine debate? - This article gives backstory to the Wakefield controversy and autism information and includes a family health guide and online sources.
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FRONTLINE Editors' Response: The Vaccine War - To date, FRONTLINE has received more than 2,600 comments and letters regarding The Vaccine War, and as readers can see, there is a wide range of views on the issues surrounding childhood vaccines as well as FRONTLINE's report.
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How can I make the best informed decision on vaccination for a newborn b... - A Quora discussion thread.
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Vaccine Discussion Forum by Dr. Robert W. Sears - This parent's discussion forum on vaccination is found on Dr. Bob Sears website. Dr. Sears is a proponent of the alternate vaccine schedule.