Policy Snapshots

Vaccination Basics the Focus of Latest Publication

Immunizations are among the most critical public health advances. The protection that vaccines provide for individual patients and the public can often be taken for granted until serious disease outbreaks draw attention to what can happen when vaccination rates lag.

Recent legislative activity suggests that momentum may be building across the states to strengthen vaccination requirements for children. Vaccine legislation in California was prompted by a measles outbreak that started in December 2014 and sickened 131 people.

The Center for Health Affairs' March 2016 Policy Snapshot, Vaccination Basics: Historical Context and Improvements in Public Health, examines the history behind vaccine development, state vaccination laws and how vaccines have contributed to recent public health advances.

Check out The Center's healthcare podcast to listen to this publication and other Policy Snapshots and Issue Briefs.

To browse related information and resources cited in this publication, visit The Center's Vaccination Pinterest Board.