HOUSTON – (Sept. 22, 2009) – Beyond the fear and the science surrounding vaccines are the diseases they prevent. The Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital is bringing the public’s attention back to the real threat to children – the diseases that are prevented with vaccines – through a new book distributed to the American Academy of Pediatrics and available for purchase online.

Titled Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story, the book contains 17 true stories of families seriously impacted by infectious diseases that are now prevented by vaccines. It was written by three experts at the Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“This book has a powerful message in the unique stories behind the statistics that show the true human suffering from not vaccinating children,” said Dr. Carol J. Baker, executive director of the Center for Vaccine Awareness & Research at Texas Children’s Hospital and co-author of the book. “The one consistent element throughout the book is that each person thought it would never happen in his or her family. And all would, given the chance to re-write history, want to immunize themselves or their children against the disease.”

Dr. Baker believes that in all the media attention vaccines have received, the forgotten story is the serious health risk our children are exposed to without vaccines to protect them. “Many people feel a false sense of security because they don’t know anyone who has experienced diseases like measles or meningitis,” said Dr. Baker. “Those diseases still exist and the best way to protect our children is to vaccinate them.”

The Lastinger family of Dallas, Texas, is featured in the book and conveyed their heartbreaking lesson about the danger of influenza when their three and a half-year-old daughter Emily died from complications associated with it. They now have made influenza vaccine education and promotion their life work and have joined an educational outreach group called Families Fighting Flu to share their story with other parents and health organizations.

“Vaccines are simple and inexpensive tools to protect kids,” said Joe Lastinger, Emily’s father. “It’s the right thing to do, like putting your child in a car seat.”

Dr. Baker said Emily was not vaccinated because recommendations at the time did not include children in her age group. Today, the influenza vaccine is recommended for every child six months and older.

“Nearly two-thirds of reported influenza-associated deaths occur in children younger than five. It is a devastating statistic and approximately 10 to 40 percent of healthy children will contract influenza each year,” said Dr. Baker.

Despite sound medical science and the results of more than 20 major medical studies that indicate vaccines are safe, Dr. Baker is concerned that attention has shifted from the life-threatening diseases they prevent to the vaccines themselves.

“The purpose of our book is to remind parents that harmful diseases still exist and that vaccines are the best way to protect our children,” said Dr. Baker.

Dr. Baker cites the resurgence of some diseases and the decline of vaccine rates in many parts of the world that can have harmful consequences in our global society. In the U.S., recent statistics show that whooping cough (pertussis) is on the rise again. Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the respiratory system that can be particularly serious and even life-threatening to very young infants.

Also featured in the book is the Throgmorton family of Amarillo, Texas, who lost their newborn daughter Haleigh because she was exposed to pertussis from her father and his parents.

“It may be tough to see your child get a shot, but what’s really tough is to arrange a baby’s funeral,” said Rodney Throgmorton, Haleigh’s father. While Haleigh was too young for the vaccine, a new strategy called cocooning is now recommended to vaccinate the newborn’s mother as well as adolescent and adult family members who will be in close contact with the infant. Studies show that more than 75 percent of infected babies get pertussis from family members.

Texas Children’s Hospital has distributed more than 58,000 copies of the book to the medical community, including 45,000 copies to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians are using the book as a tool to discuss the importance of vaccines with parents and to answer their questions.

“Vaccines are one of the most successful medical advances of all time and this enlightening book will help our members educate the community about the risks associated with not adhering to the recommended vaccine schedule,” said Dr. Joseph Bocchini, chairman of the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital is to be commended for providing this important information in such a compelling manner.”

The epilogue of the book is written by Alison Singer, a co-founder and former executive of Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization. Singer’s daughter was diagnosed with autism when she was two and a half years old. After educating herself, speaking with experts and reviewing results of all the studies, Singer changed her position and now speaks out in favor of vaccines.

“…Could vaccines be contributing to the rise in autism diagnoses? The answer each time was a clear and convincing no,” writes Singer in the book’s epilogue. “What we do know is that vaccines save lives. They do not cause autism.”

In addition to Dr. Baker, co-authors of Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story include Dr. Julie A. Boom and Rachel M. Cunningham, M.P.H. Dr. Boom is director of infant and childhood vaccines for the Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital, director of Texas Children’s Hospital’s Immunization Project and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Cunningham is the immunization registry and educational specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital.

The Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital has developed a Web site to share stories contained in Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story and to invite families to submit their own stories about vaccine-preventable diseases. Additionally, copies of the book can be purchased for $3 plus shipping and handling at www.vaccine.texaschildrens.org.

About the Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research
The Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital promotes healthier children and families by providing parents and health care professionals with the latest information and recommendations on vaccines for infants, children, adolescents, pregnant women and adults and by conducting research that contributes to effective vaccine delivery models. Information is available on its Web site, www.vaccine.texaschildrens.org. An ongoing program, the center is the creation of four Texas Children’s Hospital physicians who are experts in the fields of vaccine education and research, pediatrics, infectious diseases and adolescent medicine.

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has embarked on a $1.5 Billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes a Neurological Research Institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information, visit www.texaschildrens.org.