Booster Shots

“A masterful history of both grand and intimate scale, Dr. Ratner details how we reached a point of extraordinary scientific achievement and painful systemic distrust, making a forceful case for the path forward, across politics, public health, and patient care.”—Chelsea Clinton

“Not only have we largely eliminated measles from the United States, we’ve eliminated the memory of measles. As a result, measles is coming back. Weaving historical events with personal experiences, Dr. Ratner makes us remember, telling us exactly what is at stake if we continue along this path. A fascinating read—Booster Shots is a call to arms in a troubled time.”—Paul A. Offit, MD, author of Tell Me When It’s Over

“In many parts of the world, we are seeing the return of measles because of interruptions in childhood immunization programs, but also because parents are refusing to vaccinate their children. In Booster Shots, pediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Ratner informs us on what we must do to get back on track, and the potential for global eradication.” —Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Vaccine Development, Texas Children’s Hospital

“A brilliant book, opening up the secrets of the measles virus to yield revelations about sickness and immunity, science and society, and offering urgent lessons for the world we live in today. Dr. Ratner brings together compelling stories from laboratory science and medical history with experiences from his own pediatric practice caring for children in epidemics from recent measles outbreaks to COVID -19.”—Perri Klass, MD, author of The Best Medicine

“Booster Shots is at once a history of measles, a story of vaccine development, and a guide for approaching vaccine-hesitant parents who only want what’s best for their vulnerable children—in short, an immensely valuable read!” —David Oshinsky, author of Polio and Bellevue

“A fast-paced, riveting, tour-de-force bursting with humanity, history, and expertise. Booster Shots reveals what measles teaches us about ourselves and our future. I couldn’t put it down.”—Matt McCarthy, MD, author of the international bestseller Superbugs

“Ratner provides fascinating scientific insight into measles, explaining how the virus induces a kind of immunological amnesia by targeting immune cells responsible for remembering how to counteract previously encountered viruses, and he makes a strong case that health depends on much more than biology. This will open readers’ eyes.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Ratner closes by arguing that good science-based education should be put to work to supplant bad information and bad intentions…An intriguing look at the costs to children’s health.” —Kirkus Reviews

Adam Ratner, MD, MPH

Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Director Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and Bellevue Hospital Center

Dr. Ratner is a practicing physician, researcher, and educator at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He leads an active research group and teaches medical students, residents, and other trainees. Dr. Ratner is a frequent speaker on childhood vaccination and infections, presenting at academic conferences and in media outlets.

His research has been published in prestigious journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, PNAS, and Pediatrics. He is also the editor of a leading textbook on pediatric infectious diseases and has served on grant review panels for the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Ratner is a member of numerous advisory and editorial boards.

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