I am a passionate believer in the power of vaccines, having seen first hand how they have saved lives and ended terrible rates of infant mortality in poor and developing islands in the south pacific, namely Samoa and Vanuatu, where the MMR vaccine has been a literal life saver for populations previously afflicted by regular measles outbreaks. As a father with a five month old boy, I have been grateful to live in a country where my baby has been able to receive his routine vaccination on time and on schedule, having again seen what happens when such routines are disrupted or absent entirely.