Should Your Baby Be Vaccinated

This chapter reviews evidence on the safety and efficacy of vaccination in infants and toddlers. Several well-documented errors and side effects of childhood vaccines are described, along with how they have been addressed by vaccine manufacturers and public health policy makers. Several fraudulent or “fake news” stories about adverse vaccine effects are also recounted. Some parents are worried about the sheer number of vaccines currently recommended, and thus the chapter includes a systematic review of the scientific evidence about the effects of multiple vaccines on the risks of infections other than those targeted by the vaccines, as well as on risks of autoimmune diseases and leukemia. Future studies will be required to assess the benefits and risks of vaccinating infants and children against COVID-19.