2/17/2023 -
Improved and updated arguments and resources focusing on the school vaccine mandate debate.
11/17/2021 -
Find vaccine ingredients (substances that appear in the final vaccine product), process ingredients (substances used to create the vaccine that may or may not appear in the final vaccine product), and growth mediums (the substances vaccines are grown in) for vaccines licensed for use by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
9/13/2021 -
On Sep. 9, 2021, Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the country, mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for students ages 12 and up by Jan. 10, 2022, the first in the country to mandate the coronavirus vaccine
8/16/2021 -
All 50 states and DC require at least DTap, polio, chickenpox, and measles/rubella vaccines.
5/3/2021 -
The state will only allow medical exemptions beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. Current students with religious exemptions will be allowed grandfathered religious exemptions.
8/20/2020 -
The state will allow exemptions, but announced on Aug. 19, 2020 that the “new vaccine requirement is an important step to reduce flu-related illness and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
8/7/2020 -
A July 2020 study of FDA-approved vaccines from Jan. 1, 1996 through Dec. 31, 2015 conducted by researchers at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel stated “vaccines were found to be remarkably safe.”
4/20/2020 -
COVID-19 (coronavirus) has paused many vaccine programs in low- and middle-income countries, causing the United Nations and global health experts to warn that over 100 million children could be at risk for measles.
3/4/2020 -
Maine’s ban on religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions was upheld by voters on Mar. 3, 2020 and will go into effect in Sep. 2021.
2/12/2020 -
Discover which vaccines the CDC recommends for children from birth to age six, from age seven to 18 years old, and for adults.
8/29/2019 -
Learn about the presidential candidates’ views on important issues, compare them with a side-by-side chart, find your best match with a fun quiz, track their finances, and so much more on our 2020 Presidential Election website. The New York Times called our previous presidential election site “The most comprehensive tool for researching the candidate’s stance on issues.” Check back monthly for expanded issue coverage.
6/14/2019 -
Amid a measles outbreak in the state, New York has become the fifth state to eliminate the religious vaccine exemption, allowing only medical exemptions for public school children. All 50 states allow for medical exemptions and 15 allow for personal or philosophical exemptions.
3/20/2019 -
With measles outbreaks in several states and schools being sued for barring unvaccinated students, the debate over vaccines for children is in the news. Explore pro and con quotes from experts such as global health professor Saad Omer, PhD (pro), US Rep. Rand Paul, MD (con), physician Kristen A. Feemster, MD (pro), and the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (con).
2/21/2019 -
Our new topic explores the pros and cons in the debate over making birth control pills available over-the-counter (OTC). 9.1 million women (12.6% of contraceptive users) use birth control pills, which are the second-most commonly used method of contraception in the United States. Proponents say making the birth control pill available over-the-counter would lower teen pregnancy rates, provide contraceptive access to medically underserved women, and ease access to a health-improving drug with decades of safe use. Opponents say making the Pill over-the-counter would raise the cost of contraception for women, pose a danger to teens’ and women’s health by removing the doctor’s visit requirement, and limit what options are made available.
Our new website presents the top pro & con arguments and quotes, a history of the debate, a video gallery, the prescription status of birth control pills around the world, and a list of drugs switched from prescription to OTC status.