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Vaccines: What Everyone Needs to Know
Immunization is regarded by many as one of the greatest advances in modern civilization. The widespread use of vaccines has led to increases in life expectancy, reductions in the occurrence of childhood diseases, and is generally credited with saving millions of lives annually.
But since their discovery two centuries ago, vaccines have been dogged by pockets of persistent distrust among those who are skeptical of their science or who find compulsory immunization at odds with personal liberty. The rise of these voices in contemporary culture has contributed to trends of vaccine delay and vaccine hesitancy in some communities -- a chasm between the general population and the scientific establishment that has persisted and grown at times across the last several decades.
Vaccines: What Everyone Needs to Know(R) offers a scientifically grounded overview of the science, manufacture, and culture of vaccines in the United States and internationally. Aiming to offer an unbiased resource on this hotly debated subject, it provides accessible, authoritative overviews of the following:
- How vaccines work
- The history of vaccines
- Vaccine policy -- who writes it, and does it matter?
- The contents and manufacture of vaccines
- Vaccine injury
- The alleged link between vaccines and autism
- Vaccines and new outbreaks
Written by a leading authority in both infectious disease and vaccine education, this book offers a clear-eyed resource for parents or anyone with an interest in the use, efficacy, and controversy surrounding vaccines. In a subject area defined by partisanship, it offers reliable resource for what everyone needs to know.
But since their discovery two centuries ago, vaccines have been dogged by pockets of persistent distrust among those who are skeptical of their science or who find compulsory immunization at odds with personal liberty. The rise of these voices in contemporary culture has contributed to trends of vaccine delay and vaccine hesitancy in some communities -- a chasm between the general population and the scientific establishment that has persisted and grown at times across the last several decades.
Vaccines: What Everyone Needs to Know(R) offers a scientifically grounded overview of the science, manufacture, and culture of vaccines in the United States and internationally. Aiming to offer an unbiased resource on this hotly debated subject, it provides accessible, authoritative overviews of the following:
- How vaccines work
- The history of vaccines
- Vaccine policy -- who writes it, and does it matter?
- The contents and manufacture of vaccines
- Vaccine injury
- The alleged link between vaccines and autism
- Vaccines and new outbreaks
Written by a leading authority in both infectious disease and vaccine education, this book offers a clear-eyed resource for parents or anyone with an interest in the use, efficacy, and controversy surrounding vaccines. In a subject area defined by partisanship, it offers reliable resource for what everyone needs to know.
208 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 28, 2018
Feemster's book on Vaccines is Everything You Need to Know, which, when taken literally, is clearly never going to be true about any subject. However, in this case, I think that the book comes very close to delivering on its premise. Feemster anticipates just about every question you could reasonably expect to have about vaccines; from how they work to when they were first created and have evolved over time, from how they are currently produced and distributed to what impact they have had on human health. Importantly, she does this all on the basis of the latest peer-reviewed scientific research (references to which she has compiled at the end of the book) and in a well-balanced way: not ignoring risks, but all the while stressing the overall safety and importance of vaccination.
June 9, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It gives a plethora of information regarding vaccines from the history and development of vaccines, to safety and efficacy regulations, to vaccine hesitancy, and finally what to look for on the horizon.
It says it's an unbiased, impartial look at vaccines, however the author is a physician who specializes in pediatric infectious disease and vaccine implementation/recommendations so you can tell she leans in favor of vaccines. Still, she does openly discuss the issues that concern anti-vaccine proponents. However, she very smoothly uses scientific research and knowledge to counteract these fears and concerns.
As a pharmacist, I know vaccines are effective, safe, and incredibly important. It was nice, however, to read an entire book devoted to discussing vaccines, specifically focusing on concerns some people seem to have. It definitely gives LOTS of good talking points and counter arguments that can be used when talking with someone who is anti-vaccine or vaccine-hesitant.
My only real issue with this book was how abruptly it ended. There was no wrap-up or "final thoughts"/summary. It just ended. Other than that, this was a very solid book and one I'm very glad to have read. I know a couple of people to whom I'll be recommending this book.
It says it's an unbiased, impartial look at vaccines, however the author is a physician who specializes in pediatric infectious disease and vaccine implementation/recommendations so you can tell she leans in favor of vaccines. Still, she does openly discuss the issues that concern anti-vaccine proponents. However, she very smoothly uses scientific research and knowledge to counteract these fears and concerns.
As a pharmacist, I know vaccines are effective, safe, and incredibly important. It was nice, however, to read an entire book devoted to discussing vaccines, specifically focusing on concerns some people seem to have. It definitely gives LOTS of good talking points and counter arguments that can be used when talking with someone who is anti-vaccine or vaccine-hesitant.
My only real issue with this book was how abruptly it ended. There was no wrap-up or "final thoughts"/summary. It just ended. Other than that, this was a very solid book and one I'm very glad to have read. I know a couple of people to whom I'll be recommending this book.
October 13, 2021
A factual and science-based review of vaccines and how well they work. The answer: very well! Plus, a discussion of their safety and how and why we know they are safe. How safe? Very! In short, vaccines are amongst the most tightly regulated medications in existence, and this book will clearly explain why.
This book is written for the American market, and with their non-universal health care and unique legal systems compared to other countries, as a Canadian I had to understand what would apply to me or not. The main suggestion I have is to write a second edition to bring us up-to-date with COVID vaccines. Get vaccinated everybody!
This book is written for the American market, and with their non-universal health care and unique legal systems compared to other countries, as a Canadian I had to understand what would apply to me or not. The main suggestion I have is to write a second edition to bring us up-to-date with COVID vaccines. Get vaccinated everybody!
April 4, 2018
Interesting, if a tad clinical, but impartial look at vaccines.
December 31, 2020
Good basic, yet very detailed, information on vaccines.
September 1, 2018
35% = 1 Star
This should have been a 12 page pamphlet. But someone wanted to write a full on book, so they did, and no it will not say anything negative about vaccines at all. Vaccines are safe wonderful things that never hurt any person any place, trust them, love them, etc. That's the takeaway, the message.
It's an exhaustive, repetitive, completely dull book on top of being very biased.
However the author is a very good technical writer. I hope she does better work in the future as there is potential.
This should have been a 12 page pamphlet. But someone wanted to write a full on book, so they did, and no it will not say anything negative about vaccines at all. Vaccines are safe wonderful things that never hurt any person any place, trust them, love them, etc. That's the takeaway, the message.
It's an exhaustive, repetitive, completely dull book on top of being very biased.
However the author is a very good technical writer. I hope she does better work in the future as there is potential.
March 16, 2020
Good enough. Short and clear for anyone wants to learn how vaccine works (in a simplest way), why it works and whether vaccine is safe or not. If you're lazy just read Chapters 1, 3, 5, 8 & 9.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews