Spotlight: Bad Faith - When Religious Belief Undermines Modern Medicine

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Parents PACK

Sometimes parents make health decisions for their children based on religious beliefs — such as claiming a religious exemption to vaccines — and those decisions may not always be in the best interest of the child in terms of health. In his newest book, Bad Faith: When Religious Belief Undermines Modern Medicine, Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, explains the basis for these decisions and provides anecdotes to illustrate what can happen. Bad Faith is available at most common book retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Materials in this section are updated as new information and vaccines become available. The Vaccine Education Center staff regularly reviews materials for accuracy.

You should not consider the information in this site to be specific, professional medical advice for your personal health or for your family's personal health. You should not use it to replace any relationship with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. For medical concerns, including decisions about vaccinations, medications and other treatments, you should always consult your physician or, in serious cases, seek immediate assistance from emergency personnel.