Insights from Dr. Eric Ball, pediatrician at Rady Children’s Health (Rady Children’s)
The vital role of vaccines in modern childhood health
Childhood vaccines have reshaped modern medicine, dramatically reducing illness, disability, and death from diseases that once threatened nearly every family. Yet, as these illnesses become less visible, questions and concerns about vaccines have grown louder. Understanding why vaccines remain essential is critical to protecting children, families and entire communities.
Prevention starts with vaccines
Pediatric care is rooted in prevention. Beyond nutrition, exercise, and education, vaccines are among the most powerful tools available to keep children healthy.
“I think as pediatricians, the most important thing we do is preventative health,” states Dr. Eric Ball, a pediatrician at Rady Children’s Health. “One of the biggest ways that we can prevent disease is through vaccines.”
The historical impact of vaccination is striking. Just a few generations ago, childhood mortality rates were extraordinarily high. Many families expected to lose children to infectious diseases that are now rarely seen. “Back in the day, upwards of fifty percent of children died in childhood, largely due to diseases that we now prevent from vaccines,” adds Dr. Ball.
Diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tuberculosis once caused widespread death and lifelong disability. Vaccines transformed that reality, increasing life expectancy and allowing children to grow up without the constant threat of preventable illness.
“We don’t encounter those diseases anymore because we vaccinate for them,” Dr. Ball notes. “It’s been a game-changer for health in this country and in the world.”
The evolution of disease management
Some of the most dramatic improvements came from early childhood vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and pneumococcal disease. These bacteria once caused meningitis, severe throat infections, hearing loss, and death.
“These used to be very common causes of death and disability in children,” Dr. Ball offers. “I’ve been a pediatrician for about twenty-five years, and these are diseases that I have not seen.”
Ironically, this success has contributed to vaccine hesitancy. When parents no longer see the diseases vaccines prevent, it can be difficult to understand why immunization is still necessary. “Vaccines are, in a way, a victim of their own success,” Dr. Ball explains. “We don’t see these diseases much anymore because we vaccinate for them.”
However, declining vaccination rates have real consequences. As immunity drops, preventable diseases can return. Recent measles outbreaks in the United States underscore this risk. “We’re starting to see measles come back,” Dr. Ball cautions. “And that worries me deeply, because measles is completely preventable through vaccination.”
Ensuring immunity for all
Vaccination is not only about protecting individual children. It is also about protecting vulnerable members of the community: infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. “Every family has someone who cannot be vaccinated or has a weakened immune system,” Dr. Ball emphasizes. “Vaccinating your child helps protect them, too.”
While few new vaccines have been added to the childhood schedule in recent years, decades of data continue to confirm their safety and effectiveness. One example is the rotavirus vaccine, which sharply reduced hospitalizations for severe vomiting and diarrhea. “I don’t think I’ve hospitalized a child with rotavirus in almost 20 years,” Dr. Ball shares. “That shows how powerful vaccines can be.”
Turn to your experts for answers
For parents navigating conflicting information, especially online, trusted medical guidance remains essential. “My job is to be a voice of science and reason,” Dr. Ball assures. “If families have questions, they should talk to their pediatrician. That’s why we’re here.”
Vaccinating children on time remains one of the most effective ways to ensure they grow up healthy, resilient, and protected…today and for generations to come.
For more health and wellness resources from the pediatric experts at CHOC, sign up for the Kids Health newsletter.
Find a CHOC Primary Care Pediatrician
From babies to teens, pediatricians from CHOC’s Primary Care Network partner with parents to offer immunizations, sick visits, sports physicals and more.
