The Vaccine Debate

Our Review of the Week features an accessible guide to the vaccine debate for nonexperts.

The vaccine debate

Davidson, Tish. Greenwood, 2019
236p bibl index, 9781440843532 $40.00, 9781440843549

book cover

Davidson, a science writer who also authored Greenwood’s recent Vaccines: History, Science, and Issues (CH, Feb’18, 55-2114), has once again done an excellent job summarizing this timely and newsworthy topic. Geared toward junior students and lay readers, The Vaccine Debate illuminates the most important issues regarding the benefits and risks of using vaccines versus not using them. The text is well researched and accessible to nonspecialists, covering how vaccines impact health, the immune system and how it functions, the vaccine development process, regulations for vaccines, types of common vaccines, and the pros and cons of using them. Also included is a section dedicated to case studies that illustrate some of the issues surrounding vaccine use or non-use. The glossary, time line, resource list, and curated bibliography are additional resources to help readers gain an introductory-level understanding of vaccines. A worthwhile addition to health collections in academic and public libraries.

Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates, technical school students, and general readers.
Reviewer: S. C. Grossman, emeritus, Fairfield University
Subject: Science & Technology – Health Sciences
Choice Issue: May 2019