So:

Measles: rarely but occasionally fatal, even in first world countries
Mumps: can cause sterility in males
Varicella: (Chicken pox): Dramatically increases the risk of shingles later in life
Rubella (German measles): rarely but occasionally fatal. Pregnant women exposed to rubella have an increased risk of birth defects.
Influenza: occasionally fatal

Big phama does not set the standards for the administration of vaccines; that's done by the CDC. Take a couple hours and browse their various websites (hint: www.cdc.gov will get you started}. The CDC is a highly professional, evidence based organization that is the envy of the world. I am not a physician or other medical professional nor am I in the employ of a pharmaceutical company. Before I retired I used a number of CDC resources as the basis for risk analysis and risk forecasting which is where I got to know them reasonably well.

I also recommend the brit site badscience.net if you would like to learn more about vaccines on the plus side and the evils of big pharma on the other.

I expect that is what you are actually experiencing.

I don't think that is the one. MTIW starts with a dream about life in a world in which the speed of light is 20 MPH or so, invovling bicycles. It has been decades since I read the books so this may be wrong, but I don't recall a box.

Personally, I think the Kindle concept, once the screen gets up to something like 8" x 11" will be the salvation of newspapers. Color would be a help, too. The Kindle 2 has too small a screen to handle headlines and photographs, but landscape on 8" x 11" would work quite well. The ability to deliver the news immediately, and presumably to update during the day but yet in an easily readable screen of inconsquential weight powered by a long life battery might even get my wife to switch. And even to pay a subscription.

When I was just a wee lad, not yet ready for high school, I learned a love of science from the classic Mr. Tompkins series by George Gamow. I think they are still quite useful as introductions, even though the science has moved on a hair.

Never forget this country was founded by rich white land owners that didn't want to pay taxes. without representation in Parliment

There. Fixed that for ya.