Are you and your children up to date on all your vaccinations? Immunizations are essential for returning to school, heading to college, and traveling overseas. Let’s ensure you are current on this important health initiative.
What are Vaccines
Vaccines are preparations that teach the body’s immune system how to recognize and fight specific germs that cause disease. Most vaccines are injections, while others are put in the mouth or nose. Vaccines contain a weakened germ or antigen that triggers an immune response in the body, allowing a person to develop immunity to the germ.
Success of Vaccines
Vaccination dates back to the late 1700s, though the development of vaccines continued at a slow rate until the last several decades when new scientific discoveries and technologies led to rapid advances in the field. The measles vaccine was introduced in the early 1960s and became mandatory for children entering kindergarten in the 1980s. Since their introduction, vaccines have saved millions of lives and reduced the incidence of many diseases globally. Smallpox has been eradicated, and diseases like the polio virus are now seen in very low numbers due to vaccines, with occasional outbreaks occurring globally.
The Science Behind Vaccines
Vaccines undergo rigorous testing, are licensed by the FDA, and are endorsed by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Before being widely administered, data on their efficacy and safety are thoroughly reviewed. Even after they are recommended for the schedule, vaccines continue to be studied and constantly improved.
Why the Vaccination Schedule Matters
The recommended vaccination schedule for children is based on significant research and is considered the ideal schedule for a healthy child. The schedule is designed to work best with a child’s immune system at certain ages and is studied alongside other vaccines to ensure no interactions. Some parents ask for alternate schedules, but those schedules have not been scientifically studied. Any delays in giving the vaccines at alternate times are not recommended because those schedules have not undergone rigorous testing and do not guarantee the same level of protection.
Some parents express concern about the number of vaccines given at a pediatrician visit. Remember that vaccines are made up of antigens. Antigens are anything that could cause your immune system to respond – pet dander, dirt, etc. Babies are exposed to 2,000-6,000 antigens on a daily basis, and their immune systems handle them well. The number of antigens in a vaccine is minuscule compared to what a child is exposed to on any given day.
Multiple Doses of Vaccines
In some cases, multiple doses of a vaccine are recommended to increase protection against the disease. Since vaccines are weakened antigens, they won’t create as big of an immune response. More than one dose may be needed to create a large enough immune response to last an entire lifetime. The spacing becomes important so the immunity won’t wear off.
Side Effects of Vaccines
As a parent, it can be difficult to identify the truth about vaccines from all the available information. Let’s curb some of the misinformation about vaccine safety. Consider that a lot of opinions are on the Internet, and that opinion is different than science. To educate yourself, trust information only from credible sources, such as the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, and your pediatrician, who is a trusted advisor.
Vaccines have been and continue to be extensively researched and have no connection to autism, infertility, cancer, autoimmune disease, and sudden infant death syndrome. A study in the 1990s claimed to have found a link between autism and the MMR vaccine. That study was fraudulent and was later retracted.
Mild side effects are common and even expected. These include redness, soreness, mild fever, achiness, and fatigue. These can usually be improved with pain medicine, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen. There is a risk of more serious allergic reactions, but those chances are incredibly rare. The risk of getting a disease is far greater than the risk of having a reaction to the vaccine.
Quality of Life
Some individuals are unable to receive vaccinations for medical reasons, but they can still benefit from protection if the majority of people around them are vaccinated. For example, when the measles vaccination rate is high, the risk of measles circulating is low. Therefore, in addition to immunizing for the protection of your own children, it is also important to immunize for the benefit of the community as a whole.
Vaccines are safe and effective in protecting children from serious diseases that can have long-term effects on their quality of life. Vaccines are 90-95% effective in preventing disease, extensively studied, proven to work, and safe. Vaccines are the best tools available to keep individuals healthy and promote a long and healthy life.
At Endeavor Health, our pediatricians will work with you and your children to ensure they receive the recommended immunizations to help prevent disease and promote well-being. Contact our network of pediatric healthcare providers to schedule your next immunizations and help your children be healthy. Visit us online or call (847) 618-4968.
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