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Common Myths about Immunizations and Vaccines
Summary: Vaccines are safe and still needed to prevent certain diseases.
Myth: Vaccines are not needed because the diseases were disappearing even before the vaccines were developed.
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Fact: This is not true. Many diseases do not occur or spread as much as they used to, thanks to better nutrition, less crowded living conditions, antibiotics, and, most importantly, vaccines. However, this does not mean that the bacteria and viruses that are responsible for these diseases have disappeared. Immunizations are still needed to protect children from these diseases.
For example, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) diseases were a major problem a few years ago until the vaccine was developed for infants. Over several years, the number of cases declined from 20,000 cases of Hib diseases to less than a few hundred. The vaccine is the only explanation for this decrease. Unvaccinated children are still at risk for Hib meningitis and other serious illnesses.
Myth: Chickenpox is not a fatal disease, so that vaccine is not necessary.
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Fact: This is not true. Each year, about 9,000 people are hospitalized for chickenpox. About 100 people die from the disease. The chickenpox vaccine will protect most children from getting chickenpox. Since the vaccine was licensed in 1995, millions of doses have been given to children in the United States. Many studies show the vaccine is safe and effective. Research is being done to see how long protection from the vaccine lasts and whether a person will need a booster shot in the future.
Myth: I am breastfeeding so my child doesn't need immunizations.
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Fact: Immunizations are still needed. While breastfeeding is the best nutrition for your baby, it does not prevent infections the way vaccines do. Your child may have fewer colds, but breastfeeding does not protect against many serious illnesses such as whooping cough, polio and diphtheria like immunizations do.
Myth: These diseases have been virtually eliminated from the United States, so my child doesn't need to be vaccinated.
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Fact: Without immunizations at the right times, your child can still catch infectious diseases that may cause high fever, coughing, choking, breathing problems and even brain injury. These illnesses may leave your child deaf or blind or cause paralysis.
Immunizations have reduced most of these diseases to very low levels in the United States. However, some of these diseases are still common in other parts of the world. Travelers can bring these diseases into this country. Without immunizations, these infections could quickly spread here.
Immunizations also help people who cannot be vaccinated or who do not respond to vaccines. They can only hope that people around them are immunized.
Myth: I read that the DTP vaccine can cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
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Fact: There is no scientific evidence that links the DTaP or DTP shot and SIDS. This myth continues because the first dose is given at 2 months of age, when the risk of SIDS is greatest. However, these events are not connected.
Myth: "Hot lots" of vaccines are more dangerous than other lots.
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Fact: The federal government set up the national Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) to receive reports of vaccine reactions. People may think that if a large number of VAERS reports result from a particular batch of vaccine (a "hot lot"), then it must be dangerous. To date, no vaccine lot has ever been found to be unsafe based on VAERS reports.
Keep in mind, all vaccines are licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Vaccine manufacturing facilities are licensed and regularly inspected. In addition, every vaccine lot is safety-tested by the manufacturer. The fact that a vaccine is still being used means that the FDA considers it safe.
Myth: It is unsafe to immunize a child who has a cold and fever.
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Fact: A child with a minor illness can safely be immunized. Minor illnesses include the following:
- low-grade fever
- ear infection
- cough
- runny nose
- mild diarrhea in an otherwise healthy child
Myth: Some children have serious side effects from vaccines so vaccines must not be very safe.
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Fact: Reactions to vaccines may occur, but they are usually mild. Severe reactions to vaccines are very rare. Symptoms of a more serious reaction include the following:
- very high fever
- generalized rash
- large amount of swelling at the point of injection
If any of these symptoms occur, call your pediatrician right away.
If your child experiences any side effects after a vaccination, talk to your pediatrician. Together you can decide whether your child should receive another dose of the same vaccine.
Children with other health problems may need to avoid certain vaccines or get them later than usual. For example, children with certain types of cancers or problems with their immune systems should not get live virus vaccines like the MMR, varicella or oral polio vaccines. For children with seizures, the pertussis part of the DTaP vaccine may need to be delayed. Ask your pediatrician when the vaccine can be given.
Myth: Giving a child more than one immunization at a time can be dangerous.
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Fact: Studies and years of experience show that vaccines used for routine childhood immunizations can be safely given together. Side effects when multiple vaccines are given together are no greater than when each vaccine is given on separate occasions. Talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned about the number of vaccines your child is scheduled to receive.
Myth: Immunizations hurt.
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Fact: They may hurt a little, and your baby may cry for a few minutes. There may be some temporary swelling where your child was injected.
If your child is old enough to understand, explain that immunizations help prevent some very serious illnesses. Comfort and play with your child after the immunization. Acetaminophen can be used to help relieve some of the more common side effects, such as irritability and fever, but always check the dosage with your pediatrician.
Myth: Adults do not need immunizations unless they are traveling outside the country.
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Fact: Vaccines aren't just for travelers and kids. Far too many adults become ill, are disabled, and die each year from diseases that could easily have been prevented by vaccines. Thus, everyone from young adults to senior citizens can benefit from immunizations. Vaccines help prevent infectious diseases and save lives. Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
Vaccines for adults include:
- tetanus-diphtheria: all adults, every 10 years
- influenza (flu): adults at risk and all those 50 and older
- pneumococcal: adults at risk and all those 65 and older
- hepatitis A and B: adults at risk
- measles-mumps-rubella (MMR): susceptible adults
- varicella (chickenpox): susceptible adults
- vaccines for travelers
Myth: The majority of people getting disease have been fully immunized. Therefore, vaccinations don't work.
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Fact: It is true that no vaccine is 100 percent effective. For reasons related to the individual, not all persons vaccinated will develop immunity. Since most routine childhood vaccines have a success rate of 85 percent to 90 percent, there will be a build-up of 10 percent to 15 percent of vaccinated people each year who are still susceptible to getting the disease. It is also true that most people who get a disease have been immunized. However, this does not prove that the vaccine doesn't work.
Source: Solutions — Your EAP and Work/Life Benefit
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