Childhood illnesses like chickenpox seem like relics of the past—until they're not. In this episode of The Deep Dive, we unpack the troubling national decline in childhood vaccination rates, with a special focus on chickenpox, or varicella.

You’ll learn:

• Why herd immunity is weakening—and what that means for your family
• Startling Florida vaccination data and what it signals for public health
• Why chickenpox isn't as harmless as many think, especially for adults, infants, and pregnant women
• What pediatric experts like Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen are warning about future outbreaks
• The science behind the varicella virus, how it's spread, and how the vaccine protects us
• Safe symptom management and when to seek urgent care

From outdated “chickenpox parties” to the modern risks of misinformation, this episode challenges assumptions and equips you with facts. Tune in to explore how falling immunization rates could reopen the door to diseases we thought were behind us—and what we can all do to protect the vulnerable.