Measles cases are on the rise across the globe, and UNICEF has partially blamed the rising numbers on misinformation and “complacency about the likelihood of getting infected.” So what are the facts about vaccines every parent should know?
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the copious amounts of information out there, and some of it is conflicting. In fact, there are few parenting topics more divisive and confusing than vaccinations. So, we turned to worldwide scientific experts to present the real facts about the importance of vaccines.
#1 – Immunizations Save Lives
Just so we’re clear, the World Health Organization (WHO) is an eminently trustable source of information when it comes to worldwide health statistics. This is due to their access to wide-ranging data and their unusually high level of global accountability.
The WHO has reported that immunizations currently prevent between 2 and 3 million deaths every year from communicable diseases that include measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough. They also project that an additional 1.5 million deaths worldwide could be prevented if global vaccine coverage improves.