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Frank DeStefano, MD, MPH

Frank DeStefano, MD, MPHFrank DeStefano, MD, MPH

Director, Immunization Safety Office, CDC
CDC
Immunology

12 Answers8 Followers17 Helpful Answer Votes
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Bio

Dr. DeStefano is the Director of the Immunization Safety Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  He is a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He received training in public health and preventive medicine in the Epidemic Intelligence Service and preventive medicine residency at CDC.  He obtained a Masters of Public Health degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.  He has had extensive epidemiologic research experience at CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and at non-governmental research organizations.  His areas of research have included immunizations, autism and other developmental disabilities, reproductive health, veterans’ health, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic diseases.  Dr. DeStefano is an author on over 150 publications in leading scientific and medical journals. For the past 16 years Dr. DeStefano has had a focus on vaccine safety. 

Featured Organization

CDC

Credentials

Organization Affiliations:
  • Director, Immunization Safety Office, CDC
 

My Answers

Q. Can you give an example of an adverse event following a vaccine?
A. Vaccines are given to millions of people every year. Some people will have adverse health events that occur coincidentally after vaccination. For...
Q. What does the CDC do when it gets a report that a vaccine has caused a serious side effect?
A. CDC and FDA maintain a reporting system called the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to monitor adverse events that occur after US...
Q. Do vaccines cause autism?
A. The scientific evidence is clear that vaccines do not cause autism. The Institute of Medicine, IOM, issued a report in 2004 concluding that the MMR...
Q. Is it dangerous for kids to be getting so many vaccines at once?
A. The available scientific data show that simultaneous vaccination with multiple vaccines has no adverse effects on the normal childhood immune system...
Q. Are the combination vaccines safe?
A. Combination vaccines have been used since the mid-1940s. They have been used for many years without evidence of adverse effects and just as...
Q. So are [MMR and varicella] recommended as separate injections?
A. The use of a combination vaccine generally is preferred over separate injections of the equivalent component vaccines. However, an exception is the...
Q. How will I know if my child is having a bad reaction [to a vaccine]?
A. Your child may be experiencing an unusual condition such as a high fever, weakness, or behavioral changes that are particularly concerning to the...
Q. If your kid is sick, should you get vaccinated or wait?
A. A child with a mild common illness such as a cold or a low-grade fever does not have to wait to be vaccinated. It is preferable to delay vaccination...
Q. If my child is taking medications for ADHD, or steroids, are there vaccine interactions I need to be concerned about?
A. In this situation, the parent should consult with a health care provider before getting that vaccination. But in general the commonly used...
Q. My child has a weakened immune system. Is it safe to vaccinate?
A. Again, it depends on the level of weakened immunity. If the child has leukemia or other types of cancer, or AIDS, they should not receive live...
Q. We hear about adverse events [with vaccines]; is that the same as a dangerous reaction?
A. An adverse event following a vaccination can be any health problem that occurs after receipt of the vaccination. It doesn't necessarily have to be...
Q. Are there dangerous side effects or reactions to childhood vaccines?
A. Fortunately, dangerous side effects or reactions to vaccines are few and rare. Reactions that are life-threatening or result in lasting disability...
12 Answers