Your Baby's Best Shot: Why Vaccines Are Safe and Save Lives

Journalist Herlihy and psychologist Hagood dispute the many myths surrounding vaccines in this extensively researched and forceful pro-vaccine text. The book covers a range of topics, including the history of vaccines and their ingredients, as well as detailed descriptions of vaccine-preventable diseases (chicken pox, diphtheria, Hib, mumps, whooping cough). The authors also defend against anti-vaccine arguments, devoting several chapters to the "myth" surrounding a link between vaccinations and autism, and exploring the cognitive biases that have fueled the vaccine backlash. While millions have been "wasted" investigating a link between autism and vaccines, they warn, vaccine rates are falling and vaccine-preventable diseases are on the rise. They also defend the new (and controversial) HPV vaccine. The authors claim that while anti-vaccination foes distort information, present false data, and use scare-tactics, scientific research readily proves that vaccines are safe. Although there is always risk of a vaccine-related reaction (an unwanted side effect which can be mild, moderate or, less commonly, severe), they contend that the chances of contracting a life-threatening disease and the danger to the community-at-large is far greater. Indisputably pro-vaccine, this resource will aid parents as they make decisions about vaccinating their children. (Aug.)