Making Informed Decisions About Immunizations Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Communicable Disease Control Division of Epidemiology and Immunization Making Informed Decisions About Immunizations Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions we have available to us. Immunizations are safe. Most adverse events are minor and temporary. The complications of disease far outweigh the potential side effects of vaccines.
Immunizations are effective.
Vaccines have greatly reduced the burden of disease, disability and mortality caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. Please see the table below. Teams of providers and parents, including parents of children who experienced adverse effects from vaccines, are involved with the development and review of these materials, and they are published in the Federal Register for comment. Children have a right to be protected against serious diseases . The vaccines required for school and day care in Massachusetts protect children against 10 serious diseases.