Synopses & Reviews
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!
Synopsis
Get the straight facts about vaccines and make informed choices
Do you wonder whether vaccines are safe and whether they are all really necessary? This completely revised and updated edition of the classic Vaccines: What You Should Know helps you sort through the latest information about vaccines in order to determine what is right for your family.
Coauthored by Paul Offit, a member of the CDC advisory committee that determines which vaccines are recommended for use in the United States, this guide tells you what vaccines are made of and clearly explains how they are made, how they work, and the risks associated with them.
This updated edition includes recommendations for the smallpox vaccine, the latest information on vaccines for travelers, and the latest on the progress of combination vaccines. Expanded information on vaccine safety includes discussion of vaccines and autism, mercury in vaccines, and the ability of children to tolerate numerous vaccines at once.
Synopsis
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 mannerand complete with schedules, recommendations, a travel section, and tipsthis 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
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-225) and index.
About the Author
PAUL A. OFFIT, M.D., is Chief of Infectious Diseases at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The author of Breaking the Antibiotic Habit, he lives with his wife and two children in the Philadelphia area.
LOUIS M. BELL, M.D., is Chief of General Pediatrics at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. He lives with his wife and seven children in the Philadelphia area.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
PART ONE: What are Vaccines?
Chapter 1: Do We Still Need Vaccines?
Chapter 2: How Do Vaccines Work?
Chapter 3: How Are Vaccines Made?
Chapter 4: Are Vaccines Safe?
Chapter 5: Who Recommends Vaccines?
PART TWO: Vaccines for all Children.
Chapter 6: When Do Children Get Vaccines?
Chapter 7: DTaP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis).
Chapter 8: Polio.
Chapter 9: Hib ("The Meningitis Vaccine").
Chapter 10: MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella).
Chapter 11: Hepatitis B ("The Hepatitis Vaccine").
Chapter 12: Varicella ("The Chickenpox Vaccine").
Chapter 13: Rotavirus ("The Diarrhea Vaccine").
Chapter 14: Pneumococcus.
Chapter 15: Practical Tips About Vaccines.
Chapter 16: Vaccine Myths.
PART THREE: Vaccines for Some Children.
Chapter 17: Rabies.
Chapter 18: Influenza ("The Flu Vaccine").
Chapter 19: Lyme Disease.
Chapter 20: Meningococcus ("The Sepsis/Meningitis Vaccine").
Chapter 21: Tuberculosis.
PART FOUR: Vaccines for Children Who Travel to Far-Off Lands.
Chapter 22: Sources of Information About Vaccines for Travelers.
Chapter 23: Hepatitis A.
Chapter 24: Cholera.
Chapter 25: Typhoid.
Chapter 26: Yellow Fever.
Chapter 27: Japanese Encephalitis Virus.
Chapter 28: Things to Think About When Traveling with Children.
PART FIVE: Vaccines for Children in the Future.
Chapter 29: Combination Vaccines.
Chapter 30: Respiratory Syncytial Virus ("The Viral Pneumonia Vaccine").
Chapter 31: AIDS.
Chapter 32: Vaccines for Teenagers.
Chapter 33: Vaccines for Adults (Including Grandparents).
Summing Up: Understanding Vaccines.
Bibliography.
About the Authors.
Index.