The story of childhood vaccines is, at its heart, one of the great triumphs of modern medicine. For the better part of a century, parents have walked through the doors of pediatricians’ offices across the country and emerged with children protected against diseases that once claimed young lives by the thousands. Polio, measles, diphtheria — names that once inspired terror in households — have been pushed to the margins of American life largely because of the commitment clinicians and families have made to following evidence-based immunization schedules. And smallpox has been eradicated from the world. That legacy deserves to be honored and celebrated. In 2026, however, parents and pediatric healthcare providers are navigating a landscape that looks more complicated than it has in generations. Here’s what parents need to know about what’s affecting the landscape, the importance of vaccines, and how to make informed decisions. What’s different about the childhood […]
