And every year, parents around the world protect their kids against illnesses like polio, measles and diphtheria with safe and effective vaccines. As with any healthcare decision, parents have questions about when, where, and how to get vaccines for their children as their kids come of age to get their first shot. Likewise, vaccines are important for adults to prevent diseases like flu, pneumonia, and shingles. Vaccines not only reduce the chance of infection, but also help prevent hospitalization, disability, exacerbation of chronic diseases, and death. Physicians are trusted messengers and play a critical role in educating their patients about which vaccines are recommended based on their age and risk factors.
That’s why we’re excited today to announce new partnerships with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the American College of Physicians on three video series to help answer top questions about vaccines, share the latest science, and make information from some of the world’s top vaccine experts available to everyone through YouTube.
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ ten-part series will answer some of the most common questions that parents ask pediatricians about their children’s immunizations, including why vaccines are recommended at certain ages, what side effects to anticipate, and how to reduce the pain of shots. The AAP has recently conducted research in partnership with the FrameWorks Institute into how to improve public understanding and acceptance of vaccines, and used this research to inform its approach to the video series. The series will feature straightforward, friendly advice from practicing pediatricians who talk with parents every day about their children’s immunizations. With these videos, AAP will bring the same kind of advice parents seek from their trusted pediatrician to YouTube, making it accessible to a broad audience of caregivers seeking accurate information about their children’s health.