It can be hard to know where to find good information about vaccines, but these organizations offer clear and sound medical guidance on what can be a confusing and maddening debate.
Federal health officials used to be a reliable source of information about the vaccine schedule that parents should follow to keep their children safe from dangerous, but preventable diseases. That guidance used to be based on decades of peer-reviewed studies and evidence, and every update was issued by vaccine experts who’d closely reviewed the latest data.
This is no longer the case.
Federal health officials under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, recently altered the recommended federal vaccine schedule for children, switching several routine vaccines from universally recommended to recommended only for high risk groups, or after consulting with your doctor.
The changes were not based on evidence or close review, doctors and health experts say, but rather on unfounded, misleading, debunked, or cherry-picked rumors and whims that had once been isolated at the fringes of conspiracy. Many of these unfounded claims now live online under the banner of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly every major medical institution has protested the altered schedule, saying it would lower vaccine rates overall and spark a resurgence in measles and other serious illnesses that had been all but eliminated from the United States.
The US has never and does not now mandate vaccines—that role belongs to the states—but the federal recommendations tell insurers which vaccines they have to cover and helps states and school systems decide which shots are required for enrollment.
North Carolina doctors and medical experts worry that Kennedy’s vaccine changes are only the opening salvo in a longer campaign that eventually makes vaccines hard or impossible to get—even for people and parents who want them.
The recent federal changes have also left many parents unsure of where to turn for reliable, evidence-based guidance on the safety and effectiveness of routine childhood vaccines and the dangers of the diseases they guard against.
Most medical institutions have said they will continue recommending the old schedule, and several have increased their online presence, seeking to fill the vacuum of good information for these concerned parents.
Here is a list of resources you can go to on vaccines, their safety and effectiveness, and for a scientific and medical perspective on what can be a confusing, important, and maddening debate. We spoke with several local doctors and pediatricians for the Bad Medicine series, and they all gave similar advice: No vaccine carries zero risk, but the risk of catching the diseases are far worse; If you have questions or concerns about vaccines, talk to your doctor, and take extra care with any claims you see on social media, where the disinformation artists warn of thieves while picking your pocket.
We’ve provided the links to all these sites, a little about their bonafides and some samples of what they say about vaccines.
The Infectious Disease Society (IDS)
Who they are: IDS is a “global community of 13,000 clinicians, scientists and public health experts working together to solve humanity’s smallest and greatest challenges.”
What you’ll find: The IDS covers a lot of ground, offering specific guidance and information on bird flu, COVID-19, and other diseases, plus a range of outside resources and education opportunities. It’s a gold mine for those who want to do their own research responsibly.
“Rooted in science, committed to health equity and driven by curiosity,” the IDS says, “our compassionate and knowledgeable members safeguard the health of individuals, our communities and the world by advancing the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.”
Its vaccination resource page offers guidance for the public, as well as clinicians.
What they say: “Over the years, vaccines have prevented countless cases of disease and saved millions of lives. Children, adolescents and adults need different vaccinations, depending on their age, location, job, lifestyle, travel schedule, health conditions or previous vaccinations.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Who they are: The AAP is a collection of “67,000 pediatricians committed to the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.”
What you’ll find: The group released its own recommended schedule—which is identical to the previous federal recommendations. Its vaccine page offers resources for specific diseases, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an especially dangerous illness for young infants that is among the preventable diseases that could spike if vaccination rates continue to fall.
What they say: “Pediatricians are a key source of accurate, evidence-based information about vaccines for parents. AAP is leading efforts to counter vaccine misinformation, increase vaccine confidence, and emphasize the overall safety and efficacy of vaccinations.”
The Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP)
Who they are: Part of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, the VIP “delivers transparent, science-based vaccine information by rapidly countering inaccurate or misleading information, synthesizing evidence, and translating research for decision-making.”
What you’ll find: Lots. And this could be the place to come for instant reactions to the latest questionable claims you may read online. “The Vaccine Integrity Project monitors and addresses inaccurate vaccine- and public health-related information in real time,” the group says, and it draws on “health care providers, the public health community, and medical societies,” to conduct “comprehensive reviews of scientific evidence to inform vaccine recommendations.”
What they say: “Americans must have access to clear, credible, evidence-based information to make decisions about how best to keep themselves and their families healthy, including against vaccine preventable infectious diseases.”
The Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (VEC)
Who they are: The VEC was formed in 2000, the group says, to “provide accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent.”
What you’ll find: The site offers lots of multimedia options, including videos and speaker programs, aiming “to dispel some of the common misconceptions and misinformation surrounding vaccines.” They also “communicate the facts about each vaccine as well as how vaccines are made, how and why vaccines work, who recommends them, whether they are safe, whether they are still necessary, and when they should be given.”
What they say: “Vaccines have dramatically transformed the landscape of medicine over the course of the 20th century. However, the disappearance of many childhood diseases has led some to question whether vaccines are still necessary. Further, concerns that vaccines may actually cause other diseases have caused some to delay or refuse vaccines altogether. Find out more about not only vaccines but also the diseases they prevent.”
National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
Who they are: An organization of more than 2,400 elected members who signify “the pinnacle of professional achievement.” The NAM “draws on evidence to inform effective policies,” and “[publishes] nonpartisan, research-backed analyses and lead public-private collaborations around critical challenges in health and medicine.”
What you’ll find: The site offers a wide variety of studies, profiles of doctors, and explanations of infectious disease. And like an A+ math student, it often shows its work, providing links to HOW it knows what it knows.
What they say: “Prevention of disease is just so much more effective than having to treat when kids are sick. Vaccines have had an enormous impact on the global burden of disease.”
Other sources
We also hope you see us as a trusted source, and follow our Bad Medicine series. But several other journalism outlets offer excellent coverage on vaccines.
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF):
KFF is “a one-of-a-kind information organization, we bring together substantial capabilities in policy research, polling, and journalism in one organization to meet the need for a trusted, independent source of information on national health issues—one with the scope and reach to be a counterweight to health care’s vested interests and a voice for people.”
An online newsroom whose mission is to “deliver trusted, tough-minded journalism on the business of making medicines, health tech, science, public health, hospitals, and insurance.” There is a paywall on this site, but it’s full of top notch journalists who perform rigorous journalism.
SciLline is “a nonpartisan, nonprofit service for journalists and scientists” whose goal is to “get more science into news stories.”
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