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I wouldn't be surprised if the effectiveness of vaccines is overstated but it is indisputable that they can be, and are, very effective. Polio would of course be the quintissential example. When was the last time you met a young person with polio? Likely never. And why? Because of vaccination.

Secondly, vaccinations generally work by stimulating immune response, so I don't think there is any real fear that we're compromising our ability to naturally fight disease because of vaccines. You may be confusing vaccines and antibiotics.

I'm not weighing in on whether or not this particular move by the CDC is valid. I'm still thinking about it. And as the father of a 6-month old I have seen my baby's screams as she receives four shots in less than 60 seconds---so I'm definitely an "interested" party. But I don't know, is the flu worth it? To be honest, the flu vaccine probably more appropriate a choice than the chicken pox vaccine---which by all accounts was recommended primarily for economic reasons, not health ones. At least the flu kills people, that's a defensible reason for using it. Still, it's not a slam-dunk like the polio vaccine. So is it worth it, statistically? I don't know.

Thanks for the info. I am not suggesting that there be no vaccines, only that it could get ridiculous. Also, I have known at least one person who had polio and I would not wish it on anyone. I still am not sure, even though they stimulate immune response, if avoiding disease through immunization is the same as being exposed to it and developing natural immunity. Too bad there is no way to immunize kids against asthma, that is a real problem today and seems to be getting worse all the time. Or maybe just more cases are diagnosed than ever before.

What happens to your 6 month old when she's 28 and gets exposed to chicken pox? Will she still be immune? or will she get one heck of a case? I too had my kids immunized for it because it was required, but if I had it to do over I think I'd rather they got chicken pox the natural way, as children, and have the full, normal immune response to a live virus as opposed to the attenuated immune response a distracted immune system gives the killed virus. They might get shingles someday (both of their parents did) but maybe they'd get only a mild case like we did, not one of the blinding, multiple-nerve-stem cases like some we've seen. Adult chicken pox is a terrible, terrible thing!

Secondly, vaccinations generally work by stimulating immune response, so I don't think there is any real fear that we're compromising our ability to naturally fight disease because of vaccines
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do you at least recognize that stimulating(or overstimulating) the immune response in some children and adults can be a problem? Sure are a lot of 30 and 40 something women now suffering from immune disorders where their immune systems are basically attacking their own organs and systems. Autism is still a mystery, but I don't doubt that that one can be approached from many angles--again immune over sensitivity triggered by childhood vaccinations being one.