RETIRED, NOT EXPIRED: WHY VACCINES MATTER
Just because I've swapped my scrubs for sweatpants doesn't mean I've stopped caring about public health. So when I came across reports about U.S. school vaccination rates dropping below safe levels, I had to set down my coffee and speak up.
Let’s be honest: when it comes to life, there are plenty of things I know nothing about, a few things I know a little about, and one area where I know more than most—healthcare. After years immersed in immunology and medicine, vaccines are something I understand deeply.
Why I’m Still Passionate About Prevention
A recent AP analysis caught my eye: school vaccination rates have dipped below 95% in half of U.S. states—the threshold needed to prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles and whooping cough. As someone who’s witnessed these diseases firsthand, this hits close to home.
Here’s what really gets me: according to a 2024 CDC report, routine childhood vaccinations for approximately 117 million children born between 1994 and 2023 have had an extraordinary impact:
508 million lifetime cases of illness prevented
32 million hospitalizations avoided
1,129,000 premature deaths averted
And it doesn’t stop there. These vaccines also delivered an estimated $540 billion in direct cost savings and $2.7 trillion in societal cost savings.
That’s not just numbers on a page to me—that’s generations of families spared from heartbreak and financial hardship. For more details, check out the full CDC report here.
The Reality Check
Nothing in medicine is perfect. Vaccines, like any treatment, come with risks, but let’s put this in perspective: up to 95% of pediatricians vaccinate their own children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. That level of confidence speaks volumes about their safety and effectiveness.
And here’s something I carried with me long after hanging up my stethoscope: prevention isn’t just about protecting yourself—it’s about looking out for the folks around you. Those newborns too young for vaccines, your neighbor going through chemo, your friend’s parent with a weakened immune system—they’re all counting on us to help keep them safe.
Let’s Talk About Those Questions
Having questions is natural—it’s part of making informed decisions. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of patients over the years who needed to talk things through, and I respected that. But here’s the thing: it’s important to challenge our own assumptions, even when it’s uncomfortable.
That doesn’t mean giving equal weight to every claim floating around Facebook. It means reading broadly and critically from trusted sources like:
Keep the Conversation Going
I may be retired, but I still care about public health. Got questions or concerns? Drop a comment—I’m happy to chat or share reliable resources.