Making Vaccines Easy to Understand for All
Vaccines are one of the strongest tools we have to prevent disease, yet they are often surrounded by confusion and uncertainty. They are the result of decades of research and careful testing, created to protect not only individuals but entire communities. By helping the body build defenses without the risks of severe illness, vaccines turn once-devastating diseases into rare events. They also provide a layer of shared protection that keeps the most vulnerable among us safe, from newborns to older adults. Our goal is to make vaccines easier to understand so that everyone can feel informed and confident in the protection they provide.
About Vaccines
Myths vs. Facts
Myth: Children get too many vaccines at once
Myth: Natural infection is better than vaccination
Myth: Only children need vaccines
Myth: Vaccines can give you the disease
Myth: Vaccines cause long-term health problems
Myth: Vaccines contain harmful ingredients
Myth: Vaccines were rushed and are not safe
Required Vaccines (U.S. Schools)
DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1991
Yes
HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
Preteens & Teens (11–18 years)
2006
No
Hepatitis A
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1995
No
Hepatitis B
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1981
No
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1985
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1971
Yes
Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY)
Preteens & Teens (11–18 years)
2005
No
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
Infancy (0-18 Months)
2000
No
Polio (IPV)
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1955
Yes
Tdap Booster
Preteens & Teens (11–18 years)
2005
Yes
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1995
Yes
Common Vaccines (All Ages)
COVID-19
Variable
2020
Influenza (Flu)
Variable
1945
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
Infancy (0-18 Months)
2023
Rotavirus
Infancy (0-18 Months)
1998
Shingles
Middle Age (50–64 years)
2006
