Last night, I went to my pediatrician’s office to learn more about vaccines. His office provides monthly educational sessions discussing various aspects of children’s health, and I must admit that I look forward to each and every one. Perhaps that is partially because I am a healthcare professional and I’m a little bit nerdy that way. But mostly it’s because I’m a mom, and each and every time I go I learn something new that helps me take better care of my daughter.

We were joined by Dr. Federico Laham, a pediatrician who has specialized expertise in the area of infectious diseases. He takes care of children, both in the hospital and in the community, who have illnesses that can be passed from one person to another, usually through bacteria or viruses. His expertise includes extensive knowledge of vaccines, since vaccines are made to prevent the spread of these illnesses that can pass from person to person.

Dr. Laham spent some time sharing his perspective on vaccines, followed by a time for questions and further discussion. I found this discussion to be incredibly helpful in shaping my understanding of vaccines and the issues that parents are concerned about. Over the next week or so, I want to share with you what I’ve learned.

But, before I dive head-first into this very complex and often emotional issue that affects our children, I want to hear from you. Dr. Laham will also be discussing this issue on the blog with us, and he wants to be able to address the issues that you are concerned about.

 So, what would you like to discuss about vaccines?