I'm Dr. Mona and this is the follow-up, where we revisit past episodes here on the show in

less time than it takes a toddler to decide which sticker they want after getting vaccines

in the office. Since August is National Immunization Awareness Month, I'm bringing back one of

my favorite conversations with fellow pediatrician Dr. Nicole Baldwin.

We talk about why we vaccinate, the stories that stay with us, myths around vaccines,

and why protecting our kids and the kids around them matter so much.

If this episode resonates, hit subscribe and download and in a world where misinformation spreads fast, your listens and shares

helps elevate the right voices, hopefully this show, and protect the health of our kids.

Let's get into this incredible conversation.

Why do you vaccinate your children? Let's start there. Yeah, that's a great question. So definitely, I mean, I vaccinate myself and my kids to prevent vaccine preventable diseases in us, of course. But I also vaccinate to protect other people. So people who can't be vaccinated, I think it's important that I make sure I'm as

safe as possible. My kids are as safe as possible. So we don't spread anything inadvertently to someone

who maybe can't be vaccinated for whatever reason. They're too young. They're too old. They're,

you know, have some sort of immune deficiency. So that's

why I do it. Yeah, same with me. I mean, I think the issue here is there is this sort of

misconception that, oh, well, if I'm healthy, why do I need to vaccinate? Because I just won't,

you know, I won't get it. I'm not going to spread it to anyone. But the reality is, we do this because of protecting the most vulnerable also. We obviously are vaccinating our children to protect them and protect others. So I love that answer. Do you have any stories of vaccine preventable illnesses that you've seen? Yeah, I mean, I think I trained in the era that was mostly post

vaccine, you know, but I've seen a handful, obviously I've seen flu and chickenpox and pertussis.

But one thing I was thinking about this. So the rotavirus vaccine came out.

It was licensed the year I finished residency.

So back in the day, rotavirus used to be all over the place.

We would admit kids all the time with dehydration from rotavirus gastroenteritis, like diarrhea

vomiting.

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