Questions parents have about vaccines -- General -- What are vaccines? -- Why do we still need vaccines? -- How do vaccines work? -- How are vaccines made? -- What steps do pharmaceutical companies go through to make vaccines? -- Who recommends vaccines? -- How do we know vaccines work? -- Are vaccine-preventable diseases really that bad? -- Isn't it better to be naturally infected than immunized? -- Are vaccines given in a one-size-fits-all schedule? -- Is there any harm in using an alternative schedule? -- Why can't vaccines be combined to lessen the number of shots? -- Why aren't more vaccines given by mouth? -- Can I avoid vaccines by living a healthy lifestyle? -- Why should I trust a system that makes money for drug companies? -- Should vaccines be mandated? -- Is it my social responsibility to get vaccines? -- Safety -- Are vaccines safe? -- How do I know if a problem is caused by vaccines? -- What systems are in place to ensure that vaccines are safe? -- How do we know that different vaccines can be given at the same time? -- Do too many vaccines overwhelm the immune system? -- Do too many vaccines weaken the immune system? -- Do too many vaccines cause chronic diseases? -- Do vaccines cause autism? -- Do vaccines cause allergies and asthma? -- Do vaccines cause cancer? -- Do vaccines cause diabetes? -- Do vaccines cause mad-cow disease? -- Do vaccines cause multiple sclerosis? -- Do vaccines cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)? -- Are there "hot lots" of vaccines? -- Is the vaccine adverse events reporting system (VAERS) -- A good way to tell whether a vaccine is harmful? -- Are package inserts useful? -- How do i sort out good from bad information about vaccines? -- Ingredients -- Do vaccines contain products to which children could be allergic? -- Do vaccines contain harmful preservatives like mercury? -- Do vaccines contain harmful adjuvants like aluminum? -- Do vaccines contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde? -- Do vaccines contain ether or antifreeze? -- Are vaccines made using aborted fetal cells? -- Do vaccines contain products from animals? -- Practical considerations -- How do I deal with my child's fear of shots? -- What can I do to make the vaccine visit less stressful? -- Who shouldn't get vaccines? -- Can I vaccinate my child if he is ill? -- Can I vaccinate my premature baby? -- Can I vaccinate my child if he's taking steroids? -- Can I receive a vaccine if I'm pregnant? -- Can I vaccinate my child if I'm breastfeeding? -- What if my child inadvertently got an extra dose of vaccine? -- What if my child inadvertently missed a dose of vaccine? -- Can I vaccinate my child if someone in the home is immune compromised? -- Do vaccines given in countries from which children are adopted still count? -- Individual vaccines -- Vaccines in the first year of life -- Hepatitis B -- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis -- Pneumococcus -- Rotavirus -- Haemophilus influenzae type B -- Polio -- Influenza -- Vaccines in the second year of life -- Measles, mumps, and rubella -- Chickenpox -- Hepatitis A -- Vaccines for adolescents and teens -- Meningococcus -- Human papillomavirus -- The vaccine schedule -- Vaccine schedule and combination vaccines -- Why this schedule? -- Changes to the schedule -- Catch-up schedule.