It’s called “The Purple Book” — another vaccine-related book commonly referred to by the color of its cover. Do you use it? If not, read on to find out how this resource can be helpful for getting quick answers to vaccine questions. If so, you’ll be excited to know a new edition is now available.

The ninth edition of The Vaccine Handbook: A Practical Guide for Clinicians, a.k.a. “The Purple Book,” was recently released. Written by Gary Marshall, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, this pocket-sized guide is useful for quick reference in the clinical setting. With several chapters that discuss vaccine science and practice, the book offers both contextual and practice-relevant information in easy-to-follow prose. Likewise, vaccine-specific chapters offer information about each disease, available vaccines to protect against disease, and vaccine recommendations.

A free mobile app is also available for smartphones. Called The Vaccine Handbook App, it allows users to find information of interest by chapter or section. The app also contains links to tables and figures and to external resources, like the CDC.

Learn more, watch a video with the author, or order the book from the publisher.

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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.