Vaccines are a ritual for most American kids. And while some parents refuse to let their children be vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it has proof that immunizations have been a big success.
The number of cases of diseases like whooping cough, measles, chicken pox, hepatitis B, diphtheria and polio are dramatically lower now than before vaccines were available, the CDC says.
The other benefits: Parents miss less time from work, and doctor visits and hospital stays are reduced. The risks of not being immunized far outweigh the risks of rare, serious side effects, the agency says.
