We are a group of public health professionals in the Pioneer Valley who are committed to helping our communities navigate a challenging time when it comes to understanding vaccines. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions for you and your family.

Vaccines in the News
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Questions & Answers

Being informed about the safety and potential risks of vaccination can help you make the most informed decisions for yourself and your family.

Vaccines are one of the most significant public health achievements of the past two centuries. More human lives have been saved by vaccines than any other medical intervention.

It’s reasonable to have questions about the safety of vaccines or to have concerns about how they are developed. In our current climate, there is a lot of conflicting information circulating about vaccines and it may be hard to know what to believe.

We created this site because we want everyone in our community to have access to accurate, science-based information about the benefits and risks of vaccinations. We understand that people have questions and concerns about vaccines.  Our goal is to listen to our community and provide answers that are based on the latest science so that people can make the right choices for themselves and their families.

"As both a Public Health Director and a nurse in Amherst, I care deeply about my neighbors. Bringing our local health professionals together through Valley Vax is our way of showing our community that we’re here to listen, to answer questions, and to help make sense of all the confusing information about vaccines.”

 

Ann Becker, RN, DNP

Associate Professor/Public Health Director

University of Massachusetts Amherst

“I’ve spent decades training young pediatricians and helping families understand the science and importance of vaccines. Now, more than ever, there is an urgent need for public understanding of just how important vaccines are, and how dangerous vaccine misinformation can be. This is why I’ve joined the Valley Vax team.”

John Snyder, MD

Amherst Pediatrics

"I’m part of Valley Vax because there is a lot of confusion about vaccines and I want people to have a trusted local source of accurate information to help them make healthy decisions.”

 

Kiko Malin, MPH

Public Health Director

Town of Amherst

"I'm a senior at Amherst College and I believe in giving people reliable information so they can make informed choices and help protect the health and safety of our shared community.”

 

Dominion Femi-Jegede

Amherst College

“As a public health nurse, providing information and access to vaccines for my community is one of my most important roles. The collaboration with many wonderful local providers and colleagues through Valley Vax has allowed us to provide the public with information and to create a space where people can ask questions.”

 

Olivia Lara Cahoon, RN

Public Health Nurse

Town of Amherst

"I am a family physician in the valley and I care deeply about providing my patients with the highest quality care based in evidence whenever I can. Public health awareness around the safety and efficacy of vaccines is more crucial now than ever, and I am committed to helping our community access accurate information."

 

Emily Marsters, MD

Hadley Family Medicine

"I am a retired epidemiologist after working for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for over 30 years. I am passionate about vaccine preventable disease prevention and would like to help my community make informed decisions for their family's health. My favorite quote is from Benjamin Franklin: 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'"

 

Marija Popstefanija, MPH

How do Vaccines work?
What Diseases do vaccines prevent?
Getting Vaccinated
myths and facts
additional resources

Participating Organizations

Valley Vax

Brought to you by a group of local public health and medical providers in the Connecticut River Valley.