Childhood Vaccinations (broadcast Friday, August 29th, 2008)

A vial of influenza vaccine. Jim Gathany/CDC

With kids set to head back to school, we'll talk about the childhood vaccinations required in much of the country. State and local governments across the nation are requiring an increasing list of vaccinations for children entering school, covering illnesses from measles, mumps, and rubella to chicken pox and flu. Public health advocates say that the vaccines are well-tested and serve a vital role in preventing disease outbreaks. Some vocal parents, however, attribute numerous side effects to the vaccines, and claim that certain vaccines could be to blame for the rise of autism and other serious conditions.

Parental resistance to vaccines has diseases such as measles on the rise. From January 1 to July 31, 2008, 131 cases of measles were reported to the CDC -- more than during the same period in any year since 1996. Measles is consistently one of the first diseases to reappear when immunization coverage rates fall, CDC officials said. In this segment, we'll talk about the issue of vaccination, and whether there is any merit to the anti-vaccine claims. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.