Stacy Mintzer Herlihy - Your Babys Best Shot: Why Vaccines Are Safe and Save Lives

Foreword

W e ask a lot of our citizens.

Children are recommended to receive vaccines to prevent fourteen different diseases in the first few years of life and another two in adolescence. This means that they can receive as many as twenty-six inoculations by the time theyre six years old and as many as five shots at one time. No matter how sophisticated a parent might be about vaccines and how they work, its hard to watch children get so many shots. In many ways, vaccines are the perfect storm of fear; parents see their children get a lot of shots containing ingredients they often dont understand to protect against diseases they dont see; in a sense, vaccines are a victim of their own success. So its not surprising that some parents are choosing to delay, withhold, separate, or space out vaccines.

Unfortunately, the choice not to get vaccines isnt risk free. In the past few years, outbreaks of measles, mumps, bacterial meningitis, and whooping cough have claimed the lives of many children. Although medicine has limits, preventing certain infections by vaccination isnt one of them. As a doctor, its particularly hard to watch children suffer something that could have been prevented. And as a parent, whose number one job is to put my children in the safest position possible, its indefensible to expose them to potentially fatal infections or to expose those with whom they come in contact.

Although several books have been published discussing the science behind vaccineshow theyre made, how they work, how theyre regulated, whats in them, and their relative risks and benefitsnone have been written from the parents point of view. In Your Babys Best Shot , Stacy Herlihy and Allison Hagood offer something that isnt contained in most vaccine books. Written in clear, easy-to-understand prose, the book provides wonderful information in an empathetic manner. Its an excellent guide to what any new parent can easily perceive as a daunting, almost impossible task: understanding vaccines.

Dr. Paul Offit

Acknowledgments

Stacy

T his book was an act of love, courage, and sheer determination. I would like to thank the following people for making that daunting task easier.

Diane Volpe Sattler for her kindly encouragement and long years of mentoring. Tish Davidson for her useful suggestions about parts of this manuscript and assistance in nagivating the publishing world. Ann Fisher , my wonderful ninth grade English teacher who first made me think I could be a writer. Andrea Delman for generously sharing her vast knowledge about vaccines and everything else parenting. Dr. Esther Aronson for allowing me to pick her brain about this subject and showing me how to write about it both passionately and effectively. Our editors Suzanne Staszak-Silva and Melissa McNitt for their perceptive editing suggestions. Dr. Paul Offit for patiently answering my questions about vaccines and bravely standing up to the pro-infectious disease crowd. Arthur Allen for magnanimously sharing his knowledge of all areas of writing. Phyllis Juried , my first editor, for helping me learn how to meet a deadline. My coauthor Allison Hagood for her unflagging enthusiasm, understated wit, demanding high standards, and love of the Oxford comma.

Brendan Thomas Herlihy Jr. the best man Ive ever metfor his clever mind, loving heart, keen intelligence, insightful ideas, and constant help and support throughout this entire process. And for my very favorite kids: Serena Jane and Charlotte Winifred . Watching the two of you as you grow up has been an astonishing and constantly unfolding delight.

Allison

W hen youve been researching, reading about, and discussing an issue for years, its difficult to adequately acknowledge everyone whos been a part of that process. I cant count how many people have helped me on this journey, nor will I be able to thank every one of those people sufficiently.

Paul Offit, Kathleen Siedel, David Gorski, Seth Mnookin, Michael Shermer, David Myers, Steven Novella, and Robert Park have all written books and blogs that have been of invaluable assistance as I investigated the various issues. I am indebted to their hard work and clear thinking.

Our editors, Suzanne Staszak-Silva and Melissa McNitt , have been incredible. Theyve been encouraging throughout this process and provided some perceptive advice along the way.

My students throughout the years have been a great source of my development as an educator and writer. As they question me, I learn better ways to explain the complicated concepts contained in this book. If the writing here is helpful to parents, it is because my students taught me how to teach them well.

I appreciate my colleagues willingness to listen to my thoughts and provide feedback. Special recognition goes to Christine Swenson, Erica Henningsen Smith, Lori Tigner, Don Walker, Daniel Gore, Rosann Poltrone, and Kathryn Winograd .

My friends have been unwavering sources of support and patience through my years of exploring this issue. I appreciate every single one of them who challenged me, argued with me, disagreed with me, and ultimately stood behind me as I wrote this book. Special thanks to Bryan Lott, Meta Eaton, Alicia Seveland, Tony Kisling, Virginia Geist, Ben Fontes, Lyon Pound, and Joshua Duke for solid grounding.

My family always believed in me, especially my mother, Susan Orander.

Most grateful thanks to Adam Norman , who never let me get discouraged, picked me up when things werent working, and made sure I kept my eye on the right goals. I couldnt have done this without you.

And, finally, my coauthor, Stacy , who pulled me into this endeavor, and pushed me to write better than I thought I could. Thanks also to Brendan, Serena , and Charlotte for letting me take Stacys attention away from them for so long.

Who We Are and Why We Wrote This Book

Stacys Story

F rom the moment of the first smallpox inoculation, vaccines have been fodder for societal debate. On the one hand are parents concerned about the thought of injecting their children with something that others have told them might potentially cause harm. On the other are medical professionals attempting to explain exactly why vaccines are safe and save lives.