What experts say about childhood vaccines amid the Texas measles outbreak

The recommended list of immunizations starting at birth protects kids against more than a dozen deadly diseases from measles to whooping cough.

Health experts overwhelmingly credit vaccines for measles and other preventable diseases as huge public health successes.

As of February 28 , at least 146 people in Texas had caught measles in an ongoing outbreak that started in late January .

Most of the cases in the Texas outbreak are children who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

Vaccines not only protect children but also keep them from spreading disease to people in the community at high risk of complications.

Vaccination rates for kindergartners in the United States have fallen in recent years .

The CDC estimates that at least 33 million people have gotten the flu so far this season.

Many childhood vaccines protect against multiple diseases in a single shot, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

Sore arms are common since most vaccines are given as shots, but mild side effects might also include fever, fatigue, muscle or joint pain.