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Plus Advent Calendar Door #17: Protecting the nation

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A boy being vaccinated

The health scare surrounding the MMR vaccine may lead to epidemics.

Vaccination is an emotive business. The furore around the MMR vaccine and autism has shown that vaccination health scares can cause considerable damage: stop vaccinating, and epidemics are sure to follow. But how do scientists decide whether a vaccine and a vaccination strategy are effective and safe? We talk to Paddy Farrington, Professor of statistics at the Open University. You can also read the accompanying article.

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