This Interactive Tool Visually Compares Your Vaccine vs. Disease Risk
This is how it works and where it sources its data.
The "What’s the Risk?" interactive tool provides a visual comparison between vaccine risks and the risks associated with the diseases their vaccines were designed to prevent. This tool was developed by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and Unbiased Science, a public health communication platform.
Users can choose from various suggested comparisons or create their own by selecting two options from dropdown menus. Before beginning a comparison, users are advised to read a list of guidelines explaining how the comparisons work, including factors that can influence the comparison results and the distinction between infection outcomes and vaccinated outcomes.
The comparisons are displayed in two side-by-side boxes, representing 100,000 people in the population, with light gray bands indicating the population. The numbers are presented as annual rates, unless otherwise noted, and each risk is represented by a colored square. Red squares indicate serious outcomes, while dark gray squares represent mild or temporary outcomes.
Users can hover or tap on the squares to see details and source links. The tool converts everyday risks from lifetime figures to annual rates for consistency. To create accurate comparisons, the tool relies on data from public, citable sources such as national surveillance systems and published studies, ensuring that the data is measured consistently across vaccine and disease sides.
The team behind "What’s the Risk?" plans to expand the tool with more vaccines, diseases, and everyday life events to help users better understand the significance of these risks by comparing them to familiar situations.
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