Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know [Paperback]

Paul A. Offit (Author), Louis M. Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1999

Here is a straightforward presentation of the facts surrounding the controversial topic of vaccines, a book that confused and worried parents can turn to for answers and reassurance. Most parents have questions about vaccines that doctors are too busy to answer, and too many parents, as a result, are not having their child vaccinated at all, thus putting them at risk.

This timely book answers such questions as:

• Aren't most of these diseases eliminated anyway?
• Should my child have the new chicken pox vaccine?
• Could my baby get a bad batch of the vaccine and end up getting infected?

Comprehensive information on the history of vaccines, the diseases that can be controlled through vaccination, and the risks and benefits associated with each vaccine will help parents decide whether or not to have their children vaccinated and which vaccines to approve. With this essential resource, parents can make the right decisions for their childrens' health and safety.

New! In September 2000, Paul is launching a vaccine education page on the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website. Check it out!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In the last couple of years, the controversy over whether or not to vaccinate children has raged among the parenting set. Opponents say that vaccines don't work and that they often cause more harm than good. Proponents say that vaccines do work, and that the saving of lives and the general improvement in health of the vast majority far outweighs the low incidence of mishaps from vaccines. What Every Parent Should Know About Vaccines, by doctors and infectious-disease experts Paul A. Offit and Louis M. Bell, weighs in heavily on the side of vaccination, but it's also an important book for those parents considering not vaccinating their children. Each vaccine and the disease it prevents--from the standard ones that every child gets to vaccines administered only in special cases, such as overseas travel--is explained in detail. Offit and Bell explain and dismiss vaccine myths, as well as discuss up-and-coming vaccines for the future. This book will answer many of the questions that your pediatrician may not fully explain to you. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

The Essential Reference on Vaccines! Are vaccines necessary? • What do they protect against? • How are they made? • Why are there so many shots? • Haven't they been found to be more dangerous than helpful? • Which type of polio vaccine is best? • What vaccines do my children and I need before traveling to another country? With all the vaccine choices available and all the vaccine controversy in the media, you have a lot of questions. You'll find the answers in Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know, Revised Edition. This essential reference has been completely updated to include all the most up-to-date vaccine information: from why the rotavirus vaccine was recently suspended for use to when you might expect an AIDS vaccine to be available. Written in an accessible manner—and complete with schedules, recommendations, a travel section, and tips—this book helps you sort through all the confusing vaccination information to determine what is right for your family. Visit us online at at www.idgbooks.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; Revised Edition edition (January 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028638611
• ISBN-13: 978-0028638614
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,446,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Totally worthless, December 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What Every Parent Should Know About Vaccines (Paperback)

While the credentials of the authors are good, do not be misled. This is not the objective scientific book I was hoping for. It is no better than the worst of the reactionary anti-vaccine books. It makes statements about the absence of side-effects which are clearly untrue. After reading many scientific papers and the excellent IMMUNIZATION by Kassianos, I opted to get Hib and DPT. However, my biggest misgivings were not from the vaccine opponents but by the blatent falsehoods in WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW (e.g., Hib vaccines have no serious side-effects-- p61-- BALONEY-- seizures are possible -- Kassianos p. 80). The book is riddled with errors that exaggerate vaccine safety.I think my choice to get Hib and DPT was probably good, but this political piece masquerading as an objective book did nothing to help me in my decision. The medical literature is clear that the long-term side-effects of vaccines, if any, are unknown. The authors pretend this is not true, presumably to "protect" us. Why would I be reading up on this if I wanted to be protected from information? This book is a waste of paper.

68 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title, September 12, 2000

By 

"drdandc" (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Every Parent Should Know About Vaccines (Paperback)

The sole purpose of this book is to convince parents to vaccinate their babies when and how the medical establishment/drug industry wants them to.

My baby girl's pediatrician loaned me this book stating that "it presents both sides of the issues." She mistakenly left inside a form letter from the MERCK VACCINE DIVISION saying that they highly recommend the book for parents to "dispel all of the misinformation" out there. In my opinion, everyone should proceed with caution when a multi-billion dollar conglomerate gives their stamp of approval on a book.

Don't bother using this book as a reference. It doesn't even tell you about the ingredients (like mercury, formaldehyde and aluminum) contained in vaccines. It truly insulted my intelligence by being so one-sided. There are other books I've read (i.e. The Vaccine Guide, by Randall Neustaedter, OMD) that give both sides of the story.

46 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Smoke and Mirrors, August 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know (Paperback)

I just finished reading "Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know". It was as I suspected; the usual arguments and half truths and snide comments about parents who choose not to vaccinate. I guess what surprised me is they are *still* saying that DPT doesn't cause permanent brain damage or death and there is no such thing as a hot lot! They also say that no one has *ever* died from the hep B vaccine -- I know a man whose 5 week old daughter died within hours after the injection! Everything else is pretty standard partyline fare. They do a neat trick with the references. They don't use footnotes, they just put a list of books in the back that they got their info from. That way you don't know what they are quoting and what they are twisting/making up (unless you are educated in this area). Who's going to take thetime to hunt through 5 books to find a reference? The book will very easily mislead a lot of unsuspecting, trusting parents. However, a couple of statements are so ludicrous it seems like anyone with a brain will figure it out. But parents looking for reassurance that vaccination is safe/effective will find it here. It's a good book to have on hand just to know what a pediatrican is likely to hit you with when you go in for a check-up or to use in a debate with uneducated friends and family when they question your informed choice not to vaccinate (or selectively vaccinate.)