Vaccines

Parents weighing whether vaccines are safe, and whether every recommended shot is necessary, will find this guide useful for deciding what fits their household. The book is coauthored by Paul Offit, who serves on the CDC advisory panel that determines which vaccines are recommended in the United States.

The guide covers what vaccines contain, how they are manufactured, how they work in the body, and what risks come with them. This revised edition adds guidance on the smallpox vaccine, immunizations for travelers, and progress on combination vaccines.

The safety section has been expanded to address vaccines and autism, mercury in vaccines, and whether young children can tolerate receiving several vaccines at the same time.