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Vaccine Safety Issues

 

Hear from the experts

On Thursday, March 6, 2003, the Sabin Vaccine Institute collaborated in a telephonic media briefing that gave journalist an opportunity to inquire about current childhood vaccine safety issues. Dr. Peter Hotez, chairman of the Institute’s Scientific Advisory Council, served as an expert panelist, along with Dr. Paul Offit, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. David Neumann, of the National Partnership for Immunization (NPI). The briefing was hosted by NPI.




David A. Neumann, PhD
Director, National Partnership for Immunization

Audio Introduction (MP3: 186KB)






Peter Hotez, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine at The George Washington University and a Senior Fellow and Chair of the SVI Scientific Advisory Council.

Audio Introduction (MP3: 186KB)






Paul Offitt, MD
Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Director of Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Audio Introduction (MP3: 186KB)







Click on the questions below to hear the responses by Drs. Neumann, Hotez and Offit.

How do you respond when people question the safety of vaccines?

How many people delay or withhold immunization of their children and what are the consequences?

Is there scientific evidence of a relationship between the vaccine use and the development of asthma and other allergies?

How many vaccines are recommended for children?

What factors are being considered with respect to assuring that there will be adequate supplies of vaccines in the future?

What approaches might pediatricians use in discussing vaccines with parents?

How do vaccines used by the military differ from those recommended for the general public?

What might pediatricians say to parents about minor adverse events, e.g., injection site tenderness or swelling, mild fever, etc, associated with vaccine use?

How does the medical/scientific community respond to questions about vaccine safety?

Many scientists and public health officials endorse vaccines as the safest way to prevent childhood diseases. Click here for more information.