Why We Need Vaccines: How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases

Why We Need Vaccines is about history, science, ethics, and social issues related to infectious diseases and vaccines. In the book, I discuss the impacts of infectious diseases in the days before vaccines, the history of vaccine development, how vaccines work, and issues of vaccine equity and access. I also talk about how society views vaccines, problems with the spread of misinformation, and why some people are hesitant about getting vaccinated. The final chapter discusses our responsibilities as individuals and as part of communities. Each chapter includes a profile of somebody who works or volunteers in a role where they are contributing in some way to the broad field of infectious diseases and vaccines.

The main messages of Why We Need Vaccines are that vaccines are critical for global public health and are one of the greatest health advances ever made. I hope readers gain an appreciation for the remarkable differences vaccines have made for society, as well as an understanding of why and how we all share some of the responsibility for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Reviews:

“Rae provides all the information readers want to know [and] skillfully broaches the topic of anti-vaccination…An engaging and informative nonfiction text with all the facts about vaccinations. A must-have for middle school libraries.” — School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review

“Offers young audiences a detailed (…) account of the historical development of biological counters to diseases and epidemics.” — Kirkus Reviews

“An informative book that will engage young readers and possibly even inspire a next generation of medical researchers and practitioners. Everyone who reads will be better informed about an important topic of our times. I highly recommend Why We Need Vaccines…to inform and stimulate thoughtful conversations about vaccines in the past, the present, and the future.” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Blends personal stories with engaging nonfiction…A timely narrative for young readers living in the aftermath of COVID-19.” — Booklist

“One of the more important books you can ever read. This book, although scientific, is a very easy read, one that everyone should take up to learn the importance of vaccinations in today’s life.” — Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database

Awards:

Cybils Awards, Middle Grade Nonfiction, 2024, Winner

Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom, 2024, Commended

CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, 2024, Commended

BC Books for Schools, 2024, Commended

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, 2024, Commended

Media:

Listen to an interview about Why We Need Vaccines on Palma’s Picks (4:22).