Vaccines

Inside the Grassroots Effort to Fight Mandatory Vaccines

Even as U.S. measles cases hit record numbers, a grassroots movement is determined to keep states from requiring kids to get their shots

By Jeffrey Kluger/Sacramento June 13, 2019

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Family Members Condemn His 'Tragically Wrong' Vaccine Views

Family members say RFK Jr. has 'helped to spread dangerous misinformation'

By Mahita Gajanan May 8, 2019

Teen Vaccinated Against Mom's Wishes Addresses Congress

He said it's 'causing outbreaks of preventable diseases'

By Jamie Ducharme March 5, 2019

Yes, Vaccines Really Are Safe and Effective. Here's Why

Watch a TIME editor explain

By Jeffrey Kluger February 15, 2019

Chickenpox Outbreak Hits North Carolina School With High Vaccination Exemption Rate

A school with a large anti-vaccine community has counted 36 cases of chickenpox

By Mahita Gajanan November 20, 2018

How Nigeria Is Winning the War to Eradicate Polio

"We’re in a hurry to make sure no child is paralyzed"

By Jeffrey Kluger / Abuja May 5, 2018

Kids With Autism Are Less Likely to Be Vaccinated

This may put them at higher risk for the diseases the shots protect against

By Alice Park March 26, 2018

Why Smart People Still Believe Conspiracy Theories

A new study provides an answer

By Jeffrey Kluger November 14, 2017

Why So Many People Believe Conspiracy Theories

William of Occam would have hated conspiracy theories. A 14th-century philosopher and Franciscan friar, William is celebrated for developing the "law of parsimony," better known today as "Occam's razor." According to the razor principle, the...

By Jeffrey Kluger October 15, 2017

The U.S. Congress is in Crisis

These are today's best ideas

By The Aspen Institute August 16, 2017

Dog Owners: Stop Worrying About Autism and Vaccinate Your Pet

Virtually every dog I've ever met has suffered from autism. Don't believe me? Consider that, a) Virtually every dog I've ever met has been vaccinated against canine diseases, and b) Not a single one of...

By Jeffrey Kluger August 2, 2017

John Oliver Takes a Jab at Anti-Vaxxers on Last Week Tonight

Oliver is not interested in Rob Schneider's thoughts on vaccines

By Melissa Locker June 26, 2017

This Week in Health: Go for a Run, Change Your Tinder Photo

This week we learned how a little bit of running may add years to your life—and all of the other amazing things that pounding the pavement can do for the body. Here's what else grabbed...

By Alexandra Sifferlin April 14, 2017

Why Vaccine Skeptics Respond Better to Information Than Shaming

The majority of kids in the U.S. are vaccinated against infectious diseases. However, in recent years, some communities have seen drops in vaccine rates, causing pockets of outbreaks of serious diseases like the measles and...

By Alexandra Sifferlin April 12, 2017

Almost Half of U.S. Adults Have HPV

The latest national data show that HPV prevalence is 7.3% for U.S. adults, with highest rates among blacks

By Alice Park April 6, 2017

What the Hard Lessons of Rubella Teach Us About a Zika Vaccine

Science needs insulating from politics

By Meredith Wadman February 22, 2017

Why Trump Will Lose His War on Science

The President is picking a fight he can't possibly win

By Jeffrey Kluger January 26, 2017

This New Group Wants to Stop Pandemics Before They Start

The coalition aims to shorten vaccine development time

By Alexandra Sifferlin January 19, 2017

Why Donald Trump's Choice of RFK Jr. as Vaccine Czar Is a Terrible Idea

Kids will pay the price for anti-vaxxer nonsense

By Jeffrey Kluger January 10, 2017

Here's Some Promising News on World Polio Day

We're tantalizingly close to wiping out the disease

By Jeff Kluger / Atlanta October 24, 2016

Vaccine Rates Are on the Rise in the U.S.

After years of saying 'no,' more and more parents are saying 'yes'

By Jeffrey Kluger July 29, 2016

China Cracks Down on Vaccine Protesters

Hundreds were allegedly detained for intending to join a demonstration in Beijing on Tuesday

By Charlie Campbell / Beijing April 21, 2016

China Vaccine Scandal Prompts Angry Backlash From Parents and Doctors

Authorities are not sure how many people have been affected

By Charlie Campbell / Beijing March 22, 2016

The HPV Vaccine Is Lowering Infection Rates

The latest study shows that the HPV vaccine is working in teens and young adults

By Alice Park February 22, 2016

The Tale of the Pakistani Taliban Father Whose Baby Had Polio

Even though the Quetta attack showed the Taliban is still bent on disrupting Pakistan's attempts to eradicate polio, a one-on-one encounter proves instructive

By Jeffrey Kluger January 15, 2016

Why Mark Zuckerberg Was Right to Post His Daughter's Vaccination

A single Facebook picture could help protect a lot of kids

By Jeffrey Kluger January 11, 2016

Mark Zuckerberg Wants You to Know He's Vaccinating His Daughter

She has no idea what's coming

By Charlotte Alter January 8, 2016

Why 'Tolerating' Anti-Vaxxers Is a Losing Strategy

A society thrives on a robust mix of ideas—but not all of them are equally worthy

By Jeffrey Kluger December 10, 2015

Nepal Blockade Puts Children at Risk

The blockade has led to severe shortages of fuel, medicine and essential goods

By Rishi Iyengar November 30, 2015

How the World Is Improving Children's Health (And Where We're Falling Short)

A global report card on our successes and shortcomings on Universal Children's Day

By Jeffrey Kluger November 20, 2015

Jenny McCarthy Wrong Again—This Time on HIV

The ex-Playboy model goes from spreading lies about vaccines to spreading fears about HIV

By Jeffrey Kluger November 19, 2015

Voters to Political Candidates: Know Your Science!

A new poll suggests that know-nothingism may be getting old

By Jeffrey Kluger October 8, 2015

How a Vaccine Is Like a Banana — and Why That's Good

The antivax crowd is forever daring people to read the fine print on vaccine packages. O.K., let's do that

By Jeffrey Kluger October 6, 2015

Supreme Court Won't Challenge NY's Vaccine Requirement

Kids are required to get vaccinated before starting public school

By Alexandra Sifferlin October 5, 2015

Politics and the Art of Made-Up Science

America's leaders and scientific facts don't often get along

By Jeffrey Kluger September 17, 2015

The Vast Majority of U.S. Kids Are Vaccinated

Less than 1% of children received no vaccinations in 2014, but pockets of low vaccination rates put kids at risk

By Alexandra Sifferlin August 27, 2015

Here's How the Anti-Vaxxers' Strongest Argument Falls Apart

The anti-vaxxers have been misrepresenting an important, if little-used, law

By Jeffrey Kluger August 19, 2015

Here's Why People Believe In Conspiracy Theories

UFO sightings. Hoaxed moon landings. Reptiles who rule the world. What, in the name of our alleged lizard overlords, convinces a person to believe in conspiracy theories? According to a pair of new studies published...

By Mandy Oaklander August 14, 2015

How to Change an Anti-Vaxxer's Mind

It's not easy, but a new study suggests one way to help persuade parents to vaccinate their children

By Jeffrey Kluger August 3, 2015

Meet the Heroes and Villains of Vaccine History

A California legislator who faces a recall campaign for his support of a law mandating vaccinations is just one of the heroes in the history of vaccines. Alas, there are villains too

By Jeffrey Kluger July 29, 2015

Seattle Flunks Vaccine Science

In the same week Nigeria frees itself from polio, vaccine rates continue to fall in the Pacific northwest

By Jeffrey Kluger July 24, 2015

This Is How Nigeria Beat Polio

A quarter-century campaign brings the world tantalizingly close to eradicating a disease

By Jeffrey Kluger July 24, 2015

Why Science Is Winning the Vaccine Wars

You can't poll a scientific fact. The speed of light is the speed of light (186,282.4 miles per second) whether 90% of people believe it or 25% believe it. The same is true for the...

Polio Makes a Comeback in Ukraine as War Halts Vaccination Campaign

Free COVID-19 Vaccines Lure Visitors to Dracula's Castle in Romania

About 750 Seattle Students Will Be Excluded From School Because of Incomplete Vaccination Records

Experts Criticize Marianne Williamson's Views on Vaccines, Depression and Illness