The Paradox of Vaccines

"When my daughter turned 100 days old, we threw a huge celebration. It's an old tradition born from a time when living through the first three months of life was an accomplishment. High infant mortality, poor sanitation, and widespread infectious disease meant survival wasn't guaranteed. Reaching 100 days was a milestone because it meant the baby was strong and more likely to survive into adulthood. Families would gather to introduce the baby to the community, and offer blessings of health, luck, and longevity."

"As I held my daughter that day, I couldn't help but think how much our world has changed. A century ago, average life expectancy in the U.S. was just 54 years. Nearly 1 in 3 children never made it to age 5. Parents lived under the constant threat that a cough, rash, or fever could end in tragedy. Infectious diseases like polio, diphtheria, measles, and smallpox were common threats that cut childhoods short without warning."

At the start of the 20th century nearly one-third of children died before age five due to infectious diseases, poor sanitation, and high infant mortality. Widespread diseases like measles, polio, diphtheria, and smallpox caused death, paralysis, and suffocation among children. Vaccination campaigns dramatically reduced these illnesses, increasing life expectancy and transforming childhood milestones into moments of joy rather than fear. The visible success of vaccines has contributed to cognitive biases that inflate perceptions of rare vaccine risks compared with the real dangers of preventable diseases. Vaccine hesitancy often stems from fear and personal history and requires empathy combined with clear scientific guidance.

Read at Psychology Today