Vaccines are meant to help us, but there are contrary ideas as to whether vaccines are the best alternative. Supporters say that vaccines prevent deadly and serious diseases including rubella, diphtheria, smallpox, polio, and whooping cough. People against vaccination believe that children's immune systems can deal with most infections naturally. They point out that injecting questionable vaccine ingredients into a child may cause side effects, including seizures, paralysis, and death. This book examines the importance of childhood vaccinations for public health, weighing concerns about the risks of vaccines against the consequences of not vaccinating. It explores the issue of mandating vaccinations in the context of personal and religious freedom, and discusses the likelihood that the HPV vaccine will encourage early sexual activity.