My name is Taryn, and I’m The Vaccine Mom.
I graduated from the University of South Florida College of Medicine with a degree in molecular medicine and graduate certificates in medical biochemistry, microbiology, and immunology.
In graduate school, my research was primarily in virology (study of viruses). I worked with viruses such as eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE), dengue, West Nile virus (WNV), human herpes viruses, human T-lymphotropic virus, influenza (flu), HIV, and others, for the University of South Florida, Infectious Disease Research Institute, and USF’s Center for Biological Defense.
After graduation, I took an immunology position at a Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Laboratory at the University of South Florida, where I researched how to increase the body’s response to DNA vaccines. I published my research in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, ECS Transactions, and Plasma Medicine.
As The Vaccine Mom, I contribute to various news outlets and magazines, freelance for journals, and have appeared on various online TV, national TV, patient portals, and podcasts. You can find out more about my appearances and contributions HERE.
I currently write for Immunize.org, the National Network of Immunization Coalitions, the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit, BreakingCancerNews.com, and Vaccinate Your Family.
My goal as The Vaccine Mom is to help vaccine-hesitant parents make the informed decision to vaccinate.
If you’re not currently vaccinating your child, but considering exploring new vantage points, here’s a great place to start: The Decision to Vaccinate is an Emotional One…
If you enjoy The Vaccine Mom content, check out @TheVaccineMom on Instagram for lots more content!
Hi Taryn, I came across your site while doing a google search (on parasites). I think your approach is right on. The best way to interact with parents who have (unfortunately) joined the anti-vax movement is to present the facts clearly but still treat them respectfully and non-judgementally as individuals. Keep up the good work!
Can you list the pros and cons of vaccinating? I see alot of reasons to vaccinate but where is the information about reasons not to vaccinate? There are so many vaccine injuries being caused and alot of babies can not cope with the number of toxins being injected into them on top of the environmental toxins they are already exposed to. It is possible for babies, children and adults to have a healthy immune system and fight off disease and illness without ever having a single vaccination. Research the reasons not to vaccinate and see both sides of the story, the truth will set you free.
I love your blog! I’m a PhD student looking at vaccines and immunology from the perspective of evolutionary biology, and just the other day my advisor and I gave a talk to the general public about flu vaccines and the evolution of influenza viruses. I really like the way you break things down to non-immunologists (myself included). Great job!
I see that all of your research comes from government/CDC findings. If you would look at the actual studies yourself, you would see how inefficient they are.
I am so glad to have met you, as well! Thanks for sending me this. I’ll have to add a link to it. Keep in touch! And if you come across anything else, I’d love to see it! 🙂
Taryn,
You might like to see this cartoon strip in support of vaccines.
This is a really thorough graphic art presentation about vaccines and the anti vaccine movement. A cool educational tool!
https://medium.com/the-nib/vaccines-work-here-are-the-facts-5de3d0f9ffd0
I enjoyed meeting you this spring.
Marilyn
Thanks so much for reading and passing along!
I came across your site through a Google search and thoroughly enjoyed reading about you and your research. My father was a physician and I know just how important vaccines are. I’m passing your site along to friends. And thanks for the great links to other sites.
I appreciate your comments and thanks for reading the blog! It is apparent from my blog that I am pro-vaccine, however I have made my best attempt to stick to education and stay away from controversial topics so far. I do have a post about mercury in vaccines, http://www.thevaccinemom.com/2014/04/thimerosal-as-a-preservative-in-vaccines/ , however because this is such a new blog for me (and frankly, I’m strapped for time), I just haven’t gotten a chance to write about everything that I want to yet. And I am noting them for discussion at a later time. As always, I appreciate you taking the time to comment!
Dear Taryn,
First I would like to commend you on researching the topic of vaccines. I’ve been studying the arguments both for and against them. The process made me realize that I get discouraged at how many people won’t look for the facts themselves. I enjoyed reading your blog and learning more about vaccinations and immunizations. I am not against all vaccines, but I’m not for all of them either. I’ve been looking at the issue primarily around how media projects vaccines. I noticed your blog has many aspects about their praises but doesn’t seem to address how ingredients like mercury, carcinogens, etc. can affect people. Along these lines, what are your opinions on the Court of federal claims? I’ve found that those people who don’t research for themselves have no idea that this court system even exists. The individuals that are severely affected by the negative consequences of vaccines are pushed into this court system and left out of the spot light. The idea of no-fault compensation leaves many families left with the medical bills of those harmed by the vaccines. I appreciate that you are working to give people a simpler view of the issue and your knowledge on the topic is very apparent. What do you think about these topics that are rarely discussed?
Lisa, can you put up the address for your blog. I havnt seen it 🙂
I appreciate your comment! I really believe that education can turn this all around. Thank you for reading and for getting the word out about vaccination!
I’m so glad there’s finally an immunologist blogging about vaccines. Thank God. My own blog post “Vaccination: A Layperson’s Perspective” went viral – the scientists and MDs really need to get their voices out there, because social media is here to stay! Thank you for doing this!
Welcome to the club 🙂
Welcome to the blogosphere xx
Wish I had the above information when my son was young. I’m one of those mom’s that knew important to listen to my pediatrician and get my child all the needed vaccines but often maybe I should have a better understanding. Glad to have someone put all the research in terms I can understand.
Will be following your future work! Not that my son is 14, would like more info the “teen” vaccines (HPV).