Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a federal government agency that is charged with tracking disease and assisting state public health agencies. Its National Immunization Program (NIP) provides training, consultation, and technical services to state and local health departments in implementing immunization programs and in monitoring the safety of vaccines. The following viewpoint is taken from a CDC publication written for doctors and other health professionals to help them respond to parents’ concerns about the safety and effectiveness of child vaccines. The CDC contends that vaccines are carefully monitored for safety and that failing to vaccinate a child increases his or her risk of injury or death due to disease.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How has the effectiveness of vaccines been demonstrated, according to the CDC...