Policy/Advocacy


Here’s To No More Rainy Days and Mondays

So, in my little part of the world it’s been raining all day.  It’s a gloomy Monday and all day I’ve felt a bit like Karen Carpenter singing “Rainy Days and Mondays”. Sometimes I’d...


New Arizona Law Sparks Battle on Vaccine Exemptions in Foster Care

This guest post has been written by Jessica Orwig, of Scientific Technologies Corporation, as a follow-up to a previous post entitled “Immunization Legislation May Impact Foster Care in Arizona”...


Fighting the Flu Year Round

You would think that by this time of year the influenza season in the United States would be far from over.  Sadly, last week’s flu activity proves otherwise. Although...


Helping Parents Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy

Earlier this week I was privy to a conversation in which a parent was expressing her concerns about her child’s upcoming immunization appointment. Admittedly, she was hesitant.  She had rejected vaccines in the past,...


Vaccine Exemptions Often Result of Laziness and Lies

On the subject of school vaccination exemptions, I want to get one thing straight.  I’m not against them. My efforts to inform people about the impact exemptions have on the health of children in...


Oregon's 2013 School Vaccine Exemption Rates Climb from 2012

Last week, in a blog focused on rising school vaccination exemptions, I explained legislation (Senate Bill 132) which has recently been proposed in the state of Oregon – a state with the highest rate...


Amanda Peet Inspires Others to Take a Stand For Vaccines

As a mother and blogger, I can’t imagine anything more motivating to my advocacy efforts than to have the opportunity to hear actor, mother and Every Child By Two...


Vaccine Refusal and the Politics of School Vaccination Exemptions

Across the U.S., individual state policies determine which immunizations a child needs in order to be permitted to attend school.  And each state also has different ways in which...


Pediatricians Using Social Media For Good

As we wrap up National Infant Immunization Week, I want to acknowledge the many providers who continue to help parents understand the importance of childhood immunizations. While we may be fortunate to have...


Each Share Gives Another Child a Shot At Life

Whether it’s a phone call from a telemarketer, a child at your doorstep or a letter from the local school, there are always plenty of well-deserving organizations looking for donations in our communities. But...