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.

Awards:

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, 2024, Commended