Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know

By Paul A. Offit, Louis M. Bell Jr., Louis Bell

Book Overview

Here is a straightforward presentation of the facts surrounding the controversial topic of vaccines, a book that confused and worried parents can turn to for answers and reassurance. Most parents have questions about vaccines that doctors are too busy to answer, and too many parents, as a result, are not having their child vaccinated at all, thus putting them at risk. This timely book answers such questions as: Aren't most of these diseases eliminated anyway? Should my child have the new chicken pox vaccine? Could my baby get a bad batch of the vaccine and end up getting infected? Comprehensive information on the history of vaccines, the diseases that can be controlled through vaccination, and the risks and benefits associated with each vaccine will help parents decide whether or not to have their children vaccinated and which vaccines to approve. With this essential resource, parents can make the right decisions for their childrens' health and safety. New In September 2000, Paul is launching a vaccine education page on the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website. Check it out

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028638611
• ISBN13: 9780028638614
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.2" x 0.6" x 5.7"

Customer Reviews

straight forward easy to understand

A clear and plain explaination of how vaccines work the disease they prevent and the risks/benfits of vaccines

Great book, easy to read, informative and interesting.

If, as a parent, you had ever questioned the necessity of vaccinating your children, this book will certainly help settle any fears, and help you make decisions appropriate for your child. Contrary to some opposing views here, this book does not merely promote administering vaccinations, it is a book not afraid to give you the facts and histories of the diseases we can safely prevent our children, and our children's children, from acquiring. Remember, the reason some unvaccinated children can walk safely around, is due to the choices of the parents who did trust in the research, efficiency and safety of these vaccines.Not vaccinating, is opting to take the unnecessary risk.Thank you, Drs. Offit and Bell, for keeping all children safe.

A must have for every parent's home medical library!

Parents, if you cringe at the thought of your child getting a needle, then this book is a must have for your home medical library. Dr. Paul A. Offit (Chief of Infectious Disease at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia), and Dr. Louis Bell's (Infectious and Emergency medicine at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia) new book, WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VACCINES, is truly a parent's lifeline in a sea of questions and worries about the how's and why's of today's essential vaccinations for home, as well as abroad.As a pediatric nurse, who invariably gets to "do the honors" of bringing tears to a formerly cooing sweet lil baby face...this book at least helps takes the sting out of inflicting the boo-boo's in question to the wee small babe, as well as her worried parent's hearts. Bravo! Drs. Offit and Bell, and thank you for this informative little book!Parents, buy a copy for Granny and Gramps too!Also recommended: "Breaking the Antibiotic Habit: A Parent's Guide to Coughs, Colds, Ear Infections and Sore Throats" again, expertly written by Drs. Paul Offit and Dr. Bonnie Fass-Offit.

Very informative reading

As a first time mother, I found this book to be an extremely informative guide. It clarified for me some complex issues surrounding childhood vaccinations. Sometimes even the best intentioned medical professionals do not have or simply do not elect to take the time to properly inform parents regarding the real dangers of not vaccinating their children, and sometimes even the best intentioned parents do not take the time to seek out this information. I believe this book sheds light on the critical issue of helping parents to understand that the risks of contracting these diseases far outweigh the risks associated with the vaccine. It was perhaps only a generation ago that many of these diseases posed serious health hazards to everyone. This book certainly helped me to make educated decisions regarding the health of my child, and I think every parent would benefit from this information.

Excellent review of vaccines

Perhaps the best review of vaccinations that I have read. As a pediatrician, I feel this book is invaluable to any parent deciding on vaccines for their child.