What really reinvigorated vaccines was Prevnar, the pneumococcal vaccine that prevents against meningitis and ear infections. Here was the first vaccine to cross the billion-dollar mark.
Paul A. OffitPhysicians who care for adults generally don't think about vaccines as much as pediatricians do, and adults think of vaccines as a kid thing.
Paul A. OffitPneumococcus is a fairly common cause of pneumonia and [raises the] risk of death in older adults.
Paul A. OffitI've never seen this level of anger at parents who've chosen not to vaccinate their children.
Paul A. OffitToday, however, anti-vaccine activists go out of their way to claim that they are not anti-vaccine; theyโre pro-vaccine. They just want vaccines to be safer. This is a much softer, less radical, more tolerable message, allowing them greater access to the media. However, because anti-vaccine activists today define safe as free from side effects such as autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, and blood clotsโconditions that arenโt caused by vaccinesโsafer vaccines, using their definition, can never be made.
Paul A. Offit