Vaccine Safety: Overview.

The Western medical establishment has long agreed that vaccines are a crucial tool for protecting public health, as they can prevent or mitigate historically devastating diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), polio, rubella, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), and influenza. In the United States, government organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most major medical associations, and the vast majority of practicing clinicians have invested significant energy in campaigns to convince people to keep their vaccinations (also known as immunizations) up to date. Public health officials also encourage adults to receive select vaccinations at specific life stages and under certain circumstances, such as before international travel.