Unprotected People Stories

Unprotected People Stories is a collection of more than 100 personal accounts and case reports about diseases that vaccines prevent.

These stories remind us why vaccines are essential to protecting and preserving our public health and counterbalance anti-vaccine news stories.

Because immunization has been so successful, vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria and polio are fading from our consciousness.

Healthcare professionals may share these real-life stories of people who have suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases with their patients.

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More Real-Life Stories from Trusted Organizations

Families Fighting Flu

Emotional stories of families whose lives have been permanently altered by influenza.

National Meningitis Association

Features stories of meningococcal disease survivors and families.

Voices for Vaccines

Visit VFV's “Why I Vax” gallery showcasing pro-vaccination messaging from across the nation.

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

Search collection of real stories of real people about vaccine-preventable diseases by disease, age group, and state.

Shot by Shot

Stories of vaccine-preventable diseases from the California Immunization Coalition.

Vaccinate Your Family

Families who have lost someone to devastating, preventable diseases share their stories

Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story

The Texas Children’s Hospital profiles families devastated by vaccine-preventable diseases.