Back to School Vaccines: Know the Risks

It’s “back to school” time, when many children get annual school physicals or parents must get a doctor’s signature on a school health form. That means parents in most states are facing pediatricians, who are strictly enforcing the federally recommended childhood vaccine schedule of 69 doses of 16 vaccines. Like all pharmaceutical products, vaccines come with risks. And, because every child is different, no vaccine is safe for every child. Before you take a risk, find out what it is. Go to NVIC.org to get well referenced information about vaccines and infectious diseases.