I didn’t mean to indicate that the book was the only thing I’d read on the subject – just that I was shocked it was so disturbing. Did I mention that this book was in support of vaccines (he wants all kids vaxed according to the current vax schedule)? Although I suppose cherry picking happens on both sides of all issues. I just couldn’t believe he’d write so poorly as to undo his own argument (at least for people who expect more or better studies/references). I don’t know if that makes any sense?

I thought a book by a doctor would give a concise outline of the info that all medical doctors are supplied with when they are taught about vaccines – safety, efficacy, etc. Then I could look up all the articles to read them and have them for myself.

So I do prefer to read the original journal articles, but I haven’t been able to get all the ones that I want (full text). It seems there is a hefty charge for many of them, and its disappointing when it turns out to be a weak reference and a waste of the $. I thought you had to be affiliated with a Univ or something to get full, free access to pubmed (any full text you’re looking for?), so it’s good to know something must have changed. That’s going to be a goldmine of info! Thanks for the tip!

No, before I was in school I filtered for free full-text so I wouldn't get my hopes up reading abstracts I couldn't get articles for.

Sad, but there are a lot of articles you'd have to pay for. You can still find some great ones for free. Glad you already know about pubmed - not much else to say! Unless you want to go for that PhD in immunology and come back and educate us... someone really needs to get on solving this whole vaccination controversy already.

I thought you meant pubmed gave access to all full-text articles now. Too good to be true. You understand how dashing it is to the soul to be denied -what sounds like- an excellent paper!

And the PhD - you hear me! With where I live today, I have to choose between non Tier-1 schools. But DH did ask me if we should look at homes near one of them. I suppose once I deliver baby #2 I can look at that again more seriously. A little daunting since I've been out of the race "so long", but that's why I stick around here - y'all make it happen w/MDs, so anything is possible.

Who would ever fund anything more on vaccines? LOL

I can't tell if this is a rhetorical question or not, but my work supports many PI's who do research on vaccines.

And through my employers, I have unrestricted access to Pubmed!

For those yearning for full articles on Pubmed - my med school offers a ton of full articles through their subscriptions on Pubmed, and those that aren't free - they will order for you and send the article to your email. I'm sure other med schools are the same!

So med students...check with your schools!

Pre-meds...think of it as a giant database full of presents upon starting your first year...ok, not really, but hopefully you laughed at that one.

you can go to any med school or hospital library to get full access to things like pubmed. then you can email the article to yourself.

most med schools have remote access so if you are a med student, you can get it from home. my school got me access to everything but up to date from home.

I have a 90% success rate with getting patients to take the flu shot. Anyone who says no, I spend about 5 minutes to understand why. 36,000 died from the flu in the US last season. If you have time to be sick for 1 week, with fevers to 102, shaking chills, coughing until you feel like your head will pop off, every muscle in your body hurts, and you feel like you will die, if you have time to be out of work for two weeks, out of school etc, then fine. If not, get the flu shot. With this and a few more facts, I have a pretty good success rate.

All you have to do is see one 20 year old otherwise healthy college student, in the ICU with family around the bed, getting last rites, to realize, it could have been prevented with a flu shot. Yes, my kids get them every year. I may like the patient, but I don't love them like my own kids. If I had any concerns, I would not have my own kids get the shot.

Don't forget the Tdap. We have had over 700 cases of pertussis in our state so far this year. Indicated for everyone!

I agree-usually telling patients I have vaccinated my 2 year old helps them decide!