Vaccines provide opportunities to prevent infections that our ancestors could only dream about. Our goal is to provide people with common-sense, reliable, unbiased, and scientifically factual information that will reduce vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination rates and willingness.

Some pathogens can be effectively eradicated or eliminated with vaccines. Small pox – once a feared diseased by all – is no longer a circulating pathogen anywhere in the world. Currently, eradication of polio worldwide is a goal for healthcare providers.

Other pathogens may never be eradicated – no matter how much we may want to see it happen. We can however eliminate the threat they pose in specific communities and settings by minimizing or eliminating their transmission in defined geographic areas. Routine childhood vaccines are helping make this possible for diseases such as measles, rubella, bacterial meningitis, and Hepatitis B. Efforts are also being heavily focused on Human papillomavirus, tetanus, and many others.

Finally – there are certain organisms that are known to cause infections for hundreds to thousands of years. These organisms are smart and have managed to adapt and survive – realistically we will never be able to eradicate or eliminate these types of pathogens. But – we can control their spread and therefore the impact they have on our communities. Efforts to reduce illness and death from burdensome illnesses such as tuberculosis as well as pandemic prone viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses reduce the reach and consequences these infections can cause if left unchecked.