Vaccines
Vaccines matter for every American.
Vaccines are one of the best ways to prevent disease before it starts. We’ve been using vaccines for decades and we know they work. Before vaccines, being a young child was one of the most dangerous times in a person’s life. Now, we are protected against diseases like measles, polio and whooping cough, among others.
Built with decades of knowledge: Every vaccine is carefully designed for safety and protection.
All vaccines share the same purpose: protecting Americans and preventing serious disease. But there are different kinds of vaccines. Some train the immune system to fight diseases like cancer while others prevent infection, transmission and serious illness.
Every vaccine is carefully developed through rigorous research and clinical trials and undergoes thorough review by scientific and regulatory experts before it is approved for use. Even after approval, vaccines are continuously monitored using real-world data to ensure they continue to safely prevent serious disease and protect the population.
Not all vaccines work the same, but they all serve a common purpose: to protect against infections.
Therapeutic Vaccines
Preventative Vaccines
Vaccines have dramatically improved our health.
Vaccines have transformed American’s health and are one of the most effective public health tools we have. They eradicated smallpox, helped the United States achieve elimination status for polio, and protect millions of people from serious and potentially deadly diseases every year.
It’s important to understand that progress isn’t permanent. When vaccination rates fall, diseases thought to be in the past, like measles and whooping cough, can return.
Continued innovation ensures vaccines remain available as a critical tool to protect Americans from both longstanding and emerging health threats.
Before vaccines, many children died or were severely injured by diseases that we can now prevent with vaccines. In the early 20th century, nearly 1 in 5 children died before their 5th birthday, many from infectious disease.
American leadership in vaccines keeps U.S. secure.
U.S. leadership in vaccine innovation strengthens both national security and public health. Vaccines protect Americans from serious diseases and help ensure we are prepared to respond quickly to emerging health threats.
Developing world-leading vaccines here at home ensures American patients have access to the most advanced protection first. This domestic expertise also supports our readiness, economic stability and overall health security.
Reducing Hepatitis B
Introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth has decreased cases of hepatitis B in children and teens by 99%.
Hepatitis B
Eradicating Smallpox
Widespread vaccination has fully eradicated smallpox.
Smallpox
Eliminating Polio
Polio has been eliminated in the U.S. since the introduction of the vaccine in 1955.
Polio
Preventing Measles
One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles, and the second dose increases effectiveness to 97%.
Measles
Reducing HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has led to decreased HPV infections and pre-cancers by 88% in teens girls and 81% in young adult women.
HPV
Preventing Influenza
Flu vaccination prevented 7.1 million cases and 7,100 deaths between 2019-2020.
Influenza
Declining Whooping Cough Cases
Cases have dropped 150-fold thanks to vaccination.
Whooping Cough
Vaccines are a high-return investment for America’s health and our nation’s economy.
Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death. By preventing illness before it occurs, vaccines deliver a strong return on investment — reducing health care costs, supporting workforce productivity and generating long-term economic value.
Continuing to prioritize evidence-based vaccine policy is essential to maintaining these benefits for patients, sustaining a strong and productive workforce and strengthening America’s long-term economic resilience.
Every American deserves disease protection.
Every American should be able to protect themselves and their family with vaccines that are available and accessible without cost or barriers standing in the way, because vaccines are only effective when everyone who wants one can get one. Recommended vaccines are typically covered at little or no cost, ensuring families can make health decisions without financial barriers.
Preserving access isn't just about convenience - it protects individuals, helps prevent the spread of disease and bolsters national security. Limiting access to vaccines reduces an individual's choice and weakens our ability to prevent illness before it starts.
Below are testimonies from our Voters for Cures advocates.
Natalie M. Headshot
Natalie M.
“Cervical cancer is a serious issue that can impact so many families. As a woman, but also a mother to my beautiful daughter, I’m grateful that a vaccine was discovered to help prevent against the virus. Access to this care is critical.”
Marylin C. Headshot
Marylin C.
“Surviving cancer and managing a chronic condition has made me more mindful about protecting my wellbeing whenever I can.
Preventive care isn’t just routine for me, it’s essential. That’s why I’m so grateful I was able to talk to my doctor and access and receive the shingles vaccine, which gives me peace of mind knowing I’ve taken an important step to protect myself from another painful illness.”
Chloe V. Headshot
Chloe V.
“Efficient and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines helps keep our communities connected. Safely gathering with friends and family is a basic human need — and safeguarding medical innovation is what makes it possible.”
Brooke B. Headshot
Brooke B.
“Infants are already at a high risk for contracting RSV, and premature babies often face even greater chances of complications from the virus due to underdeveloped immune symptoms. As a child born just two pounds in the NICU, I know how important preventative care is for families. Now as a healthy and strong woman, I wanted to do my part, and I received the RSV vaccine.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vaccine?
Vaccines train your immune system to recognize and respond to certain diseases, so your body is best equipped to fight back.
Many vaccines prevent disease or serious illness, helping to protect your health.
Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have for protecting against serious and sometimes deadly infectious diseases.
How do vaccines work in the body?
Vaccines teach your body to recognize and fight pathogens and other foreign substances like viruses and bacteria - so your immune system is ready if you encounter them in the future.
Vaccines do this by using a harmless component of the pathogen—such as a weakened or inactivated form of a virus—allowing your body to build protection without causing illness
Are there different types of vaccines?
There are several types of vaccines, and while they can differ in design, every vaccine is developed with one goal: to protect you and your loved ones from serious illness.
Some vaccines provide long-lasting protection against pathogens that don’t change much overtime, like polio, measles, and hepatitis B.
Others, like the flu shot, target viruses that change frequently, so the vaccine needs updating to match circulating strains.
There are also therapeutic vaccines, which are being studied to help the body fight diseases a person already has, such as certain cancers.
Why are vaccines important?
Vaccines are important because they protect people from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.
They train the body’s immune system to fight germs before they cause disease, keeping individuals and families safer.
And they play a critical role in improving public health by preventing and largely removing dangerous diseases like polio and smallpox, saving millions of lives and preventing countless hospitalizations.
Are vaccines safe?
Vaccines are very safe, and they are the best way to protect yourself and your family from serious illness.
Millions of children receive vaccines safely every year.
While all medical products may have the risk of side effects, the most common side effects of vaccines are very mild and short, such as pain or swelling at the injection site.
The United States has an extremely thorough and layered vaccine safety system. Before a vaccine is approved by the FDA, it must go through years of testing and a robust clinical trial process to show that its benefits outweigh the potential risks. Even after approval, vaccines are closely monitored for safety.
Is there a link between vaccines and autism?
It’s completely understandable that a parent of a child with autism would want answers about the cause of the disorder. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic component.
The question about vaccines and autism has been asked and thoroughly answered. Instead of continuing down this path we should be putting resources and energy into promising research that can help us better understand real factors that contribute to this complex condition.
Why is it important for communities to have high vaccination rates?
High vaccination rates are critical to preventing outbreaks of serious diseases and keeping people healthy.
When large percentages of people are vaccinated, it creates a strong shield of protection that helps stop infections from spreading.
If other people have vaccines and they work for them, why do I need one?
Even though other people may be vaccinated, diseases can still spread if too many people skip their shots.
By getting vaccinated – you’re protecting yourself and protecting vulnerable people from the disease reaching them. When more people are vaccinated, everyone stays safer.
What is in vaccines?
Vaccines are made up of different ingredients.
Antigens are the active ingredient in a vaccine.
Some ingredients help boost the immune response of a vaccine, while others ensure the vaccine works safely and provides long-lasting protection against disease.
Every ingredient in a vaccine is extensively reviewed and tested for safety.
Why do you need some vaccines once but others annually?
Not all vaccines work the same, but they all serve a common purpose: to protect against infections.
Some vaccines prevent individuals from contracting a specific disease.
These vaccines are effective against viruses and bacteria that change very little over time, such polio, measles, and hepatitis B. Since they can provide long-lasting protection, they are not needed on a recurring schedule.
Other vaccines protect you against severe disease and are used against viruses and bacteria that undergo frequent changes.
Think about the seasonal flu vaccine – it is updated every year to help your immune system respond to the latest changes to the virus.
Why should babies get the Hep B vaccine?
Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection, and babies are particularly vulnerable.
Infants infected at birth have a 90% chance of developing chronic infection, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure.
Hepatitis B is up to 100 times more infectious than HIV and the virus can live outside the body for up to a week.
It can be passed to infants by an infected mother, family member or caregiver during pregnancy or birth, through cuts or bites or even by sharing personal items with someone who is infected.
That’s why giving the vaccine at birth is so important – it protects newborns immediately, when they need it most and before they can be exposed.
The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks, and the vaccine is 95-99% effective in preventing hepatitis B infection and the associated long-term complications.
What is the impact of splitting up vaccines and getting them administered further apart?
When vaccines are delayed, children stay unprotected longer when they are most vulnerable.
Some vaccines are combination vaccines that have been around for decades.
These vaccines help limit the number of trips to the doctor’s office and lead to fewer shots.
Today’s recommended vaccine schedule is carefully developed to ensure children are protected at the ages when they’re most likely to face serious illness.
The schedule is based on decades of research to make sure kids get protection exactly when they’re needed most.
Why is it important to have access to vaccines?
It is important to have access to vaccines so that every American has the ability to protect themselves and their families from disease.
Ensuring that Americans can get vaccines with no out-of-pocket costs allows people to make the best choice for their family without financial barriers.
Related Resources
Blog
Changes to America’s childhood vaccine schedule fail to protect our nation's kids
Blog
Vaccines and autism: Decades of scientific evidence find no link
Blog
Why the vaccine injury program matters
Blog
Recognizing the importance of vaccination for American health and security