BRINGING A NEW BABY HOME is such an exciting time! You’ve been busy picking out the safest car seat, setting up the perfect crib, and making healthy choices for your growing family.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP?
Learning how to protect your little one from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Why are vaccines important?
YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE personal experience with diseases like measles or pertussis, and it can feel like these illnesses are a thing of the past. But the truth is, they still exist. Vaccines help keep our children and communities safe. In 2019, there were 1,282 cases of measles across 31 states—the highest number since 1992. In 2025, we are experiencing another outbreak. The vast majority of cases occur in people who aren’t vaccinated.
When people skip vaccines, they not only put themselves at risk but also those around them—especially babies, young children, and the elderly. Outbreaks of serious illnesses, like Haemophilus influenzae type B (which can cause meningitis and even death in infants), measles, and pertussis have been linked to vaccine refusals.
It’s understandable to wonder if vaccines are still necessary when these diseases are relatively rare. But the fact is, these diseases haven’t gone away.
AS RECENT OUTBREAKS DEMONSTRATE, UNVACCINATED CHILDREN ARE AT GREAT RISK.
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to keep your child safe from illnesses that can have lifelong consequences.
Vaccine Hesitancy Continuum
VACCINE HESITANCY is not all or nothing.
Most people who feel hesitant are not completely opposed—they’re often in a space of uncertainty. They may have accepted some vaccines and delayed others. What they’re really doing is searching for answers. By understanding where someone is on this continuum, you can offer the support and information that’s most useful for them.
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