The Myths and Facts of Childhood Vaccines

People tend to hear mixed messages about whether or not they should get their children vaccinated. Parents may hear from some sources that it is the best thing to do to keep their children healthy. From other sources they may hear that they should not do it and that they have the right not to vaccinate their children. Some people feel that vaccinations are safe and some people feel that they do more harm than good.

While it is important for people to have the right to make their own decision about whether to get their child vaccinated or not, it is very important that parents know the facts before they make the big decision. Since there are a lot of myths about vaccinations, this article will help separate the myths from the truth.

The Myth: Side effects that come from vaccines are worse than the actual disease they are supposed to be preventing

The Facts: While it is possible for a child to develop a serious side effect from a vaccine that they receive, the chances of the child doing so is extremely rare. And the chances of death from a vaccine are even more rare. The majority of children who receive a vaccine will only exhibit minimal side effects. These side effects include redness or soreness of the injection site or a slight fever.

Vaccinations prevent diseases such as Polio.

The diseases that the vaccines are preventing will definitely have a worse effect on the child if they were to contact the actual disease. Many of the childhood diseases that these vaccines are preventing could easily cause irreversible side effects or death to children.

The Myth: Vaccines are not 100 percent effective so it is not worth it to get them at all.

The Facts: Yes, vaccines are not 100 percent effective. There are cases where the child has gotten the vaccine and has also still gotten the disease. But vaccines protect the children who receive them between about 85 to 99 percent of the time. And, if the child does still get the disease they have been vaccinated for, many times it is a far less dangerous case of the disease than it would have been had they not been vaccinated. And of course, the odds of a child being protected from the disease after they have received the vaccine are much higher than if they did not get the vaccine at all.

The Myth: Children should not get more than one vaccine at the same time.

The Facts: When a parent receives the list of vaccines that their child will receive at the same time it can seem a little overwhelming. Five or six vaccines at a time can seem like a lot for a little body to handle. Research has been done to ensure the safety of children receiving more than one vaccine at time. There are a few positive aspects to getting more than one vaccine at a time. A child is protected quicker from the diseases if they receive them together instead of receiving them spread out and vaccines are not forgotten if a child receives them on schedule. Also, parents do not have to make as many trips to the doctor’s office for their children to receive the recommended vaccines. If the number of vaccines given at one time is still a concern for a parent they should talk to their child’s health care provider to see what can be done to ensure their child still receives the recommended vaccines.