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Vaccine Educational Materials

The Vaccine Education Center provides informational materials in both English and Spanish.

Vaccine Trivia Corner

What celebrities have served as a spokesperson for the American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza® campaign?

Jennifer Garner, Kristi Yamaguchi and Joy Behar were all spokeswomen for Faces of Influenza®, a campaign created by the American Lung Association to show that influenza is not a “faceless” disease and to encourage everyone, 6 months of age and older, to get the influenza vaccine every year.

Learn more about Faces of Influenza»

What are two common side effects caused by vaccines?

Two of the most common side effects caused by vaccines are fever and tenderness at the injection site.

To learn more about why these two side effects might occur, read our “Ask the VEC” article about “Side effects and the body’s reaction to vaccines.”

What is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases acquired by travel?

Hepatitis A is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases acquired during travel. For this reason, getting the hepatitis A vaccine is often recommended before traveling to areas with high rates of hepatitis A (i.e. Mexico, Central America, Africa and Asia).

Which U.S. president is known for having had polio?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) became ill with polio in 1921 at age 39. When in the public eye, FDR concealed his illness; few saw him in a wheelchair in public. Although polio paralyzed him from the waist down, he did not let polio paralyze his drive for success. FDR became the 32nd president of the United States in 1933.

Besides developing his “New Deal” programs, FDR had an immense impact on the resources committed to fighting polio. His support and public persona led to the creation of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, an organization dedicated to furthering the scientific understanding of polio and how to prevent it. The spectacular success of its fundraising campaign, known as the March of Dimes, led to the name by which the foundation is known today.

Why is there a difference in immunity from breastfeeding and vaccination?

Immunity from breast milk and that from vaccination are different because of the source of the antibodies protecting the baby. Specifically, the antibodies that develop after vaccination are made by the baby’s own immune system and provide immunologic memory, protecting the baby for years after immunization; this is known as active immunity. Conversely, antibodies in breast milk are of maternal origin and provide only short-term protection; this type of protection is known as passive immunity.

What vaccine-preventable disease have travelers to the Olympics been recommended to be immunized against?

Travelers have been reminded to be immunized against measles because of large outbreaks in several European countries.

Measles spreads easily to people who are not immune; in fact, about 9 out of every 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if they come into contact with someone who has measles.

Even if you don’t plan to travel abroad, you should still consult your doctor to make sure your immunizations are up to date.

Learn more about measles and the MMR vaccine»

What two illnesses cause the deaths of almost 3 million children around the world each year?

Together, pneumonia and severe diarrhea claim the lives of more than 2.7 million children less than 5 years of age each year, making them the world’s biggest childhood killers. The most common cause of severe pneumonia among children worldwide is pneumococcus, a type of bacteria. The most common cause of severe diarrhea among children worldwide is rotavirus, a virus that infects the lining of the intestines. Fortunately, vaccines have been developed to protect children from both of these diseases.

Public health organizations around the globe are now working to get these vaccines to the most vulnerable populations:

Learn more about these vaccines and the diseases they prevent:

What vaccine-preventable disease has also been called the “100-day cough?”

Commonly referred to as whooping cough, pertussis has also been called the “100-day cough” because of the severe, prolonged coughing it causes.

Pertussis occurs in three phases. While the first phase includes cold-like symptoms including some coughing, both the second and third stages are characterized by severe coughing spells. During the second stage, children with pertussis can experience up to 15 coughing episodes per day; the episodes can be so severe that they cause vomiting and exhaustion. This stage can last up to eight weeks. The third stage is characterized by a decrease in the number and severity of coughing episodes, but can last for several months.

Learn more about pertussis»

President James Garfield experienced the loss of two of his children from vaccine-preventable diseases. What diseases were they?

President Garfield’s first-born daughter, Eliza, died from diphtheria in 1863, and his youngest son, Edward, died from pertussis in 1876. This was not uncommon in the era before vaccines against these diseases were available.

The DTaP and Tdap vaccines protect against both of these diseases. Learn more about these vaccines and the diseases they prevent»

For more information about politics and medicine during Garfield’s presidency, consider reading Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard, available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble booksellers.

What is the difference between the pertussis-containing vaccines known as DTaP and Tdap?

The DTaP vaccine is given to babies and young children whereas the Tdap vaccine is given to teenagers and adults. Compared to the DTaP vaccine, the Tdap vaccine contains lesser quantity of diptheria protein (hence the lowercase “d”) and lesser quantities of pertussis proteins (hence the lowercase “p”). The lesser quantities of diphtheria and pertussis proteins are sufficient to boost immunity, but low enough to prevent high rates of side effects that occurred when adults and teens received the DTaP version.

Learn more about the DTaP and Tdap vaccines and the diseases they prevent»

What two vaccines prevent diseases transmitted by mosquitoes?

The yellow fever vaccine prevents yellow fever, and the Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine prevents Japanese encephalitis virus. Both yellow fever and the Japanese encephalitis virus are transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Both vaccines are recommended for travelers to countries with a higher risk of transmission of these diseases.

See where these vaccines are recommended»

What vaccine, other than the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, prevents a form of cancer?

In addition to the HPV vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine also prevents cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine prevents liver cancer caused by infection with hepatitis B; it was the first cancer-prevention vaccine available.

Some diseases are only found in humans; however, influenza can infect many types of animals. Which animals can also get influenza?

In addition to humans, influenza also infects:

What vaccine for teens prevents a coughing disease that can be fatal in infants?

The Tdap vaccine protects against three bacterial infections: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. The severe coughing spasms and thick, sticky mucus caused by pertussis can be fatal in infants as they labor to breathe against a narrowed windpipe.

Unlike most other infections that are transmitted from children to adults, pertussis tends to be passed from older children and adults to infants; therefore, the Tdap vaccine is an important tool in stemming transmission to the youngest members of our families and communities.

Learn more about:

Problems with which vaccine led to the “Cutter Incident”?

Problems with an early version of the inactivated polio vaccine (shot) led to the Cutter Incident. To read an in-depth description of what happened, check out the book The Cutter Incident: How America’s First Polio Vaccine Led to the Growing Vaccine Crisis, written by Paul Offit, MD, and published by Yale University Press in 2005.

Which vaccine-preventable disease is sometimes referred to as the “100-day cough"?

Pertussis or whooping cough is sometimes referred to as the “100-day cough” because people with pertussis can cough for months after having the initial infection.

What famous author nearly died after intentionally exposing himself to a friend with measles?

Mark Twain nearly died from a measles infection after intentionally exposing himself to the disease when his friend Will Bowen was infected.

Vaccine given orally or by shot

The vaccine for polio is available in two formulations: The polio shot, currently used in the US, contains killed polio viruses. The oral version contains live, weakened polio viruses, and although it is no longer used in the US, this version is still used in many other countries throughout the world.

Disease that could be prevented by a vaccine, but isn’t?

A vaccine was available to protect against Lyme disease between 1998 and 2002 but was removed from the market due to low interest in use and unfounded safety concerns. Each year, about 20,000 people get Lyme disease in the U.S. while the technology sits unused.

Learn more about Lyme disease»

Which vaccine-preventable disease is not affected by herd immunity?

Tetanus is not affected by herd immunity. Because tetanus is not passed from one person to another, it does not matter how many people around you are immunized. Your risk of disease remains the same.

What disease did parents want their children to share before the vaccine was available?

Before the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine became available, parents wanted their children to catch chickenpox when others in the house or neighborhood had it. Unfortunately, some parents still try to have their children intentionally exposed in order to avoid getting a vaccine. Since some children suffer complications and die from the disease, this is not the safest choice. Learn more about varicella and the vaccine»

Which three countries have not yet successfully controlled transmission of polio virus through vaccination?

The three countries that have not successfully eradicated polio yet include Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. 

Antigens are the parts of vaccines that cause an immune response. Who do you think received more antigens from vaccines: children in the 1940s or children today?

Although children in the 1940s only received vaccines to prevent four diseases, they got about 3,200 antigens whereas today’s children receive vaccines to prevent 14 diseases but only get about 156 antigens. Scientific understanding of immunology and technological advances in the laboratory have allowed scientists and manufacturers to make vaccines that are more purified and contain fewer antigens while still affording immune protection.  

Which disease is known to be more commonly spread from adults to children as compared with the usual direction of transmission from children to adults?

Pertussis is spread more commonly from adults to children.

Which vaccine is given to girls to protect their future unborn babies?

The rubella vaccine is given to girls to protect their future unborn babies. Clinically, rubella takes two forms—rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). While rubella is acquired when someone comes into contact with the saliva of an infected person, such as through coughs or sneezes, CRS occurs when a pregnant woman is infected with rubella. About 85 of 100 babies of women infected during the first trimester of pregnancy will be born with abnormalities such as deafness; cataracts or other eye damage; heart defects; mental retardation; damage to liver, spleen, or skeleton; diabetes; and autism.

Boys are immunized to protect their future partners and to help decrease transmission of disease in the community.

Which vaccine-preventable disease is also known as German measles?

The disease also known as German measles is rubella.

Development of which vaccine slowed after the invention of antibiotics?

Development of the pneumococcal vaccine slowed after the invention of antibiotics which could treat pneumococcal infections. However, as doctors realized that some pneumococcal infections were no longer responding to antibiotics, development of a vaccine again became a priority. 

Which vaccine may be updated each year in response to changes in the virus it protects against?

The vaccine that may be changed as often as every year is the influenza vaccine. These updates are necessary because as the virus replicates, it changes itself. These changes are significant enough that a protective vaccine one year may not work the next year. 

Whooping cough is the common name for what vaccine-preventable disease?

Whooping cough is the common name for pertussis; it comes from the sound that children make when they try to breathe air in against their narrowed windpipe. The windpipe is clogged by thick, sticky mucus resulting from toxins made by the bacteria.

What is the only disease to be eradicated from the world by a vaccine?

Smallpox has been eradicated from the world through widespread vaccine use. The disease was both dreaded and deadly in its day; in fact, 3 of every 10 people who got smallpox died. 

Edward Jenner was the first to realize that because of their exposure to cowpox, milkmaids were immune when smallpox outbreaks occurred. He began arm-to-arm inoculations by taking pus from the scab of a person and transferring it to another. By the 1940s, technology allowed for large-scale growth of cowpox and subsequent immunization of entire populations. 

The last case of natural smallpox occurred in Somalia in 1977. Smallpox virus now only exists in two laboratories in the world and is heavily guarded as it is considered a possible agent of bioterrorism. 

Which vaccine is required for entry into certain countries?

Proof of having received the yellow fever vaccine is required for entry into certain countries.

What vaccine is available as both a shot and a nasal spray, but not as an oral vaccine?

The influenza vaccine is available as a shot and a nasal spray, but not by mouth.

While most vaccines are not given to pregnant women, which ones are recommended for pregnant women?

While pregnant women are advised to wait until after giving birth to get most vaccines, the influenza and pertussis vaccines are specifically recommended during pregnancy. The reasons for using each of these vaccines differ:

Influenza vaccine

Because women are at an increased risk of suffering complications and hospitalization if they become ill with influenza while pregnant, women are recommended to get the influenza shot if they will be pregnant during influenza season.

Pregnant women are at increased risk because they:

Pertussis vaccine

Pertussis can be particularly deadly for young infants because of their narrow windpipes and the severe coughing spells which cause them to struggle to breathe. Because young infants cannot be immunized against pertussis until 2 months of age, pregnant women are recommended to receive a dose of Tdap between 27 and 36 weeks’ gestation during each pregnancy to help protect the babies. For women who are past this point in their pregnancy, they should ask for the Tdap vaccine before being discharged from the hospital

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