How the search for vaccine safety led parents away from the experts

In the first few months of her son's life in late 2020, Dani Masters did what millions of mothers across the country have done for decades: She followed the guidance of doctors and vaccinated her firstborn.

Her son received the hepatitis B vaccine the day he was born. At 2 months old, he received his first doses against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae, rotavirus and pneumococcal disease.

To her recollection, Masters received all the recommended shots as a child.

"Everyone gets vaccines," in Portland, Oregon, where Masters grew up, she told Straight Arrow News. And for the most part, Masters, who is now 39 and lives in New Hampshire, never gave vaccines much thought.

But she had one small hesitation: Her husband, from whom she was in the midst of separating at the time, pleaded with her not to immunize their child.