U.S. Surgeon GeneralVerified account

2/6 Modern vaccines are highly effective and safe, with most serious side effects being exceptionally rare — and much less serious than contracting the actual disease.

6/6 We are committed to countering the misinformation that fuels anti-vaccine sentiment among parents and legislators who are earnestly trying to protect their children and the public.

3/6 Misinformation about vaccines is still widely reported, so we feel it is crucial to state clearly and unambiguously: Vaccines do not cause autism. That fact was demonstrated again this week in a new study on MMR vaccination by Danish researchers.

5/6 Although routine childhood vaccination for measles remains high in the United States (greater than 91 percent for preschool children), localized dips in vaccination coverage have resulted in a recent resurgence of measles in parts of the country.

4/6 The World Health Organization estimates that measles vaccination prevented more than 21 million deaths worldwide since 2000.