Challenges and controversies in immunization safety

No vaccine is perfectly safe or effective. As diseases such as diphtheria a nd polio fade, vaccine safety concerns, especially alleged links between va ccinations and several chronic illnesses, have become increasingly prominen t in the media and to the Public. This article reviews the current scientif ic evidence on several recent vaccine safety controversies. It also provide s information on how various safety research is conducted, some of the conc urrent challenges, and finally, some guidance on communicating with patient s on vaccine risks.