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Vaccinating children is one of the most effective ways to protect against serious diseases which can cause severe illness or even death. For example, the measles vaccine has prevented an estimated 57 million deaths from measles between 2000-2022. Declining vaccination rates increase the risk of serious outbreaks. Unfortunately, there has been a significant increase in measles outbreaks across the country. As of November 21, 2024, there have been 280 cases of measles in 32 states and jurisdictions in the United States. Children under five represent 41% of these cases, and more than half of these children required hospitalization.
Another good example of the importance of vaccination is the recent increase in cases of pertussis, or whooping cough. Pertussis is one of the diseases that we routinely vaccinate children against as part of their regularly scheduled vaccines. Children who are fully vaccinated against pertussis can still be infected, but their symptoms are usually much milder than in someone who has not been vaccinated. Also, vaccinating healthy children helps to slow outbreaks of disease from spreading and protect other children who are too young or otherwise not able to receive vaccinations.
Common vaccine myths
There is a lot of vaccine misinformation on the internet which can cause parents to worry. Here are a few answers to common vaccine concerns:- The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine is NOT associated with the development of autism. The safety of the MMR vaccine has been shown in many well-designed research studies over many years.
- Another common myth is that vaccines contain high levels of harmful ingredients such as aluminum or formaldehyde. In fact, these ingredients are found in much higher levels in common foods and drinks. For example, aluminum is found in both formula and breast milk in much higher levels than is found in vaccines. One pear contains FIFTY times more formaldehyde than is found in any vaccine.
- Parents may worry that receiving more than one vaccine at once can cause their child’s immune system to be overwhelmed. But our immune systems can fight off thousands of potential threats every day and are capable of handling multiple vaccines at one time.
Here are a few common questions I get asked by my parents regarding childhood vaccines.
What are the most common side effects of receiving one or more vaccines?
Fever is one of the most common side effects after receiving a vaccine. Since fever is part of the body’s immune response, fever after a vaccine indicates that the vaccine is doing its job to prepare the immune system to fight the virus or bacteria in the future. (It is important to note, however, that not everyone will develop a fever after vaccination – not to worry, the vaccine is still working). Other common side effects include arm soreness where the vaccine was administered, as well as fatigue or fussiness. More serious adverse events can occur, but these are extremely rare.How many vaccines are safe to receive in one visit?
Multiple studies have shown that it is definitely safe to receive all of the recommended vaccines in one visit. The body’s immune system can manage exposures to thousands of germs in a day, so the vaccines do not overload or weaken the immune system. In general, the routine childhood vaccinations are scheduled for the age when a child is most vulnerable to the effects of that disease. Also, many of these vaccinations require multiple doses in order to give full protection. As a result, a child may need to receive multiple vaccines in one visit, but this is safe and important to fully protect the child.What about alternative vaccine schedules?
Spacing out the timing of vaccines beyond the recommended schedule is not recommended because it leaves children exposed to potentially harmful diseases for longer. Alternative schedules have not been shown to be beneficial to children. The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children receive all routine childhood vaccinations as scheduled instead of spreading them out, to ensure that they are protected against dangerous diseases as soon as possible.Is there any child who should NOT receive a certain vaccine?
Some children may not be eligible to receive one or more of their vaccines. For example, your child may not be eligible to receive one or more of their vaccines if they:- Had a true allergic reaction to that vaccine in the past, or a very rare but serious immune reaction after a vaccine, like Guillain-Barre syndrome.
- Are taking (or have recently taken) medications that affect the immune system, such as chemotherapy medications.
- Have been diagnosed with certain disorders of the immune system.
By vaccinating their children, parents are not only protecting their families from serious illness, but also contributing to the health of the whole community. Pediatricians are happy to help by providing accurate information for parents to make informed choices about vaccination. In this way, we can work together to protect vulnerable populations and prevent dangerous diseases, to build a healthier future for all children.
