About the Vaccine Education Center

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) was launched in October 2000 to provide accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

The Center, through its websites, videos, informational tear sheets, e-newsletters, webinars and speaker programs, seeks to dispel some of the common misconceptions and misinformation surrounding vaccines. The goal of our team is to communicate the facts about each vaccine as well as how vaccines are made, how and why vaccines work, who recommends them, whether they are safe, whether they are still necessary, and when they should be given. The center has also developed educational materials for elementary, middle, high school and college students.

The VEC is funded by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and through philanthropic donations. The Center does not receive support from vaccine manufacturers.

The VEC is a member of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Vaccine Safety Net because our website meets the criteria for credibility and content as defined by the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety. Learn more about the WHO’s Vaccine Safety Net.

About the VEC research program

The VEC research effort relates to vaccines and immunization health services. Our research contributes to empowering patients, educating providers, and informing public health practice and policy related to vaccines across the lifespan. 

To fulfill the VEC’s research mission, our work focuses on vaccine education and communication strategies, implementation of immunization recommendations, vaccine acceptance, and immunization of special populations.

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the nation's first pediatric hospital, has been a center of research, development and testing of vaccines such as those that prevent rubella (German measles), rabies, mumps, chickenpox and rotavirus. The Hospital has been the site of many pioneering research initiatives that have benefited children everywhere. It is home to one of the nation's largest pediatric research and pediatric educational programs. Learn more about CHOP.

Reviewed on July 13, 2021