A personal reflection on the three mothers who shaped Dr. Paul's life — and the love that outlasts loss.

LOVE

My mom, my African mom who helped raise me and my siblings, and my mother-in-law are no longer with us. What I remember most about each was their deep love and caring.

Growing up in Africa as a missionary kid, my mom was who we turned to when sick or injured. She was a nurse by profession, but wow was she gifted at knowing what we needed, both physically and emotionally. I just felt safe that no matter what happened, Mom would know what to do.

My African mom helped my family while my parents were working more than full-time hours. She was always loving and kind and would let you lick up the cake batter after pouring the cake. She was so emotionally available that we always felt safe. Home should be a safe place and both my moms growing up absolutely made our house a home that was filled with love and was safe.

My mother-in-law was the one who was there to help us the first month after the birth of each of my children. She had a great sense of humor, and we laughed about a lot of things. Most importantly she had a deep faith and introduced me to A Course in Miracles. My personal spiritual journey was transformed by her love. On my last visit with her the month she transitioned to the spiritual world, she couldn't walk or talk, but we held hands and communicated love so powerfully that I left with a peace I've only felt a few times in my life.

This Mother's Day I honor all moms for all the work, love, self-sacrifice and caring you have provided your children and the world.

Thank you, Mom.

Love from your son and all in the world you've touched with your love.

The Vax Facts audiobook is officially available on Audible — narrated by Dr. Paul and DeeDee, in their own words, for your ears.

We have been waiting for this moment, and today it’s finally here.

The Vax Facts audiobook is officially live on Audible — and we couldn’t be more excited to get this into your hands (and your ears). We narrated every word of this ourselves, because these words matter to us personally. This isn’t a book we handed off to a studio voice. You will hear us.

What You’ll Hear

Vax Facts: What to Consider Before Vaccinating at All Ages & Stages of Life walks you through every vaccine recommended by the CDC — from pregnancy through the teenage years. Dr. Paul covers each one directly: the ingredients, what the safety data actually shows, the side effects, and the risks. Simple comparison tables help you weigh the rates of disease-related deaths against vaccine-related deaths, so you can see the numbers for yourself.

This isn’t about telling you what to decide. It’s about making sure you have the full picture before you do.

A Word from DeeDee — Just a Mom

At the end of each chapter, I share my own stories and reflections as a mom who has lived this journey. I wrote those sections because I know what it feels like to sit in that exam room, to ask the questions, and to wonder if you’re making the right call. You are not alone in that. My hope is that hearing my voice alongside Dr. Paul’s gives you not just the facts — but a sense that there’s a mom in your corner who has been exactly where you are.

Why We Read It Ourselves

When it came time to produce this audiobook, the answer was obvious: we had to be the ones to record it. Every word in this book represents decades of experience, thousands of families, and a deep commitment to informed consent. We wanted you to hear that commitment — not just read it. Whether you’re driving, exercising, or tucking in the kids, Vax Facts can come with you.

Listen on Audible Today

The Vax Facts audiobook is available now. Pre-order is live and the full release drops today, May 5th. Head to Audible to get your copy:

#VaxFacts, #VaxFactsAudiobook, #DrPaul, #DeeDeeHoover, #InformedConsent, #VaccineEducation, #KidsFirst4Ever, #Audible, #NewAudiobook,#PaulThomasMD, @audible_com,

@drpaulthomasmd, @deedeehoover

Disclaimer: The information provided in this content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making any medical decisions. This content does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.

When the science no longer supports a common pediatric recommendation, parents deserve to know — and this one has needed a closer look for a long time.

When a new baby arrives, parents understandably want to do everything possible to protect them. It's one of the most natural instincts in the world. So when they're told — by their pediatrician, or by the American Academy of Pediatrics — to require everyone who visits to be up to date on their vaccines first, it sounds like responsible medicine.

I've been asked about this practice, known as "cocooning," many times over the years. And I was recently asked about it again by The Defender at Children's Health Defense, for a piece published on April 21, 2026. My answer was direct: this practice should be abandoned.

​What Is Cocooning?

Cocooning is the strategy of requiring family members, caregivers, and visitors to get vaccinated — particularly with the Tdap (whooping cough) vaccine — before they're allowed to visit a newborn. The idea, introduced by public health officials in 2004, was to create a protective "cocoon" of immunity around infants who are too young to be vaccinated themselves, particularly against pertussis (whooping cough).

On the surface, it sounds reasonable. Pertussis can be genuinely dangerous for young infants, and we want to protect them. I understand why parents and physicians embraced this idea when it was introduced.

​The Problem: The Science Doesn't Support It

What changed my thinking — and what I believe should inform yours — is what we now know about the acellular pertussis vaccine.

The acellular pertussis vaccine does not prevent infection. It suppresses symptoms. That's an important distinction. A person who has received the Tdap vaccine can still catch whooping cough and silently spread it — without ever knowing they're infected. Research suggests this asymptomatic transmission may actually be the main driver of the ongoing whooping cough resurgence — meaning that requiring Tdap for visitors may not reduce risk to the baby and could theoretically increase it.

This isn't a fringe position. The CDC's own researchers concluded in 2016 that cocooning is "costly, is plagued with implementation challenges, and has uncertain effectiveness." Their vaccine advisory panel stated as far back as 2011 that it was "an insufficient strategy to prevent pertussis morbidity and mortality in newborn infants."

And yet the AAP continues to promote the practice — and has extended it beyond pertussis to include flu and RSV as well.

In my book Vax Facts: What to Consider Before Vaccinating at All Ages & Stages of Life, I wrote:

That last line is the part worth sitting with. The vaccine doesn't just fail to prevent transmission — research suggests it may actually increase the likelihood of silent spread.

Vaccine Failure, Not Unvaccinated People

The ongoing rise in pertussis cases is often attributed to unvaccinated individuals. The data tell a more complicated story.

Since acellular pertussis vaccines were introduced in the United States in the 1990s, Bordetella pertussis strains have evolved. They've lost a protein called pertactin — one of the primary targets of the vaccine — in apparent response to vaccination pressure. In Vax Facts, I also wrote: "The vaccines are no longer very protective, which explains why we are seeing more pertussis than ever. This is not an issue of the unvaccinated but rather of vaccine failure."

This is critical context for any family being told they must vaccinate to see a newborn. It means the policy is built on a premise — that the Tdap vaccine reliably prevents transmission — that the scientific record no longer supports.

Requiring vaccination as a condition of entry pushes people away at a vulnerable time. Dr. Robert Malone has pointed out that "no vaccine, no visit" rules create real and underreported harm: family tension, isolation, and increased risk of postpartum depression. Policies built on weak scientific evidence shouldn't be breaking up family bonds.

​What I'd Want Every Parent to Know

I'm not suggesting that parents ignore newborn health. That protective instinct is right and good. What I am saying is that parents deserve complete, accurate information before making decisions — and the cocooning policy, as currently promoted by the AAP, is not built on solid scientific ground. That matters.

Read the full Defender article. Read Vax Facts. Ask questions. Your baby's health — and your family's wellbeing — deserve decisions grounded in the full picture.

#KidsFirst4Ever, #DrPaul, #PaulThomasMD, #Cocooning, #Pertussis, #WhoopingCough, #NewbornHealth, #VaccineScience, #VaxFacts, #InformedConsent, @ChildrensHealthDefense, @KidsFirst4Ever, @PaulThomasMD

This post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

A pediatrician's current reading list — from a 2016 classic to a 2025 must-read — plus some exciting news about the Vax Facts audiobook.

​The Vaccine-Friendly Plan (2016)

​Vax Facts (2025)

​Vaccines, Amen: The Religion of Vaccines (2025)

​Coming Soon: The Vax Facts Audiobook

Dr. Paul Thomas and DeeDee Hoover join Dr. Elizabeth Mumper of the Independent Medical Alliance to talk about informed consent, parental rights, and how to navigate vaccine decisions with clarity and confidence.

What Happens When Parents Go Silent in the Exam Room?

​Two Skits That Show the Difference

​What the Data Shows

​Watch the Full Webinar

One honest conversation about vaccine study design, informed consent, and what every parent deserves to know