A shot in the dark?
Many parents have doubts about immunizing their children, fearing possible side-effects. The decision is yours – but it affects not only your child’s health, but your family’s and anyone you come into contact with if your child falls ill. If you have concerns, get informed so you can make the best decision for your child’s health and wellbeing…
Why is it so important for me to immunize my baby if the diseases it protects him from are now so rare?
It’s correct that the diseases we vaccinate our kids against are now very rare – but this is because of immunization. If parents do not get their children vaccinated there is a risk these diseases could make a comeback – as an example, Japan suffered a major outbreak of whooping cough in the late 1970s after parents assumed it was safe not to bother getting their babies vaccinated.
Think about the bigger picture too: your child might well be at very low risk if you don’t get her immunized, as ‘herd immunity’ from many serious diseases has been well-established. But if enough parents don’t get their children vaccinated that herd immunity you’re relying on to keep your child well will become less and your safety net may no longer exist. And what about children and adults who can’t be immunized due to health issues such as leukemia, or babies who are too young to be immunized against certain diseases? Immunizing your child also helps to protect their health.
We may have low levels of vaccine-preventable diseases but the bacteria that causes them is still out there, or may be only a plane ride away. Most experts believe that continuing to immunize our children until diseases are totally eradicated is the best way to keep them and future generations – even your grandchildren – safe.
But don’t vaccines weaken the immune system?
Vaccines are very weak versions of natural diseases, so while the diseases themselves can weaken your child to the extent he could pick up something else if he has chicken pox or measles, the vaccines for these diseases do not result in the same effect. There is also no evidence that courses of immunization expose a child to so many bacteria that his immune system can’t keep up.
Vaccines have to meet the highest safety standards and it can take years of testing before they’re licensed. Once in use, they’re continually monitored for safety and effectiveness
I’m concerned about multiple immunizations – isn’t it too much for my baby to handle when he’s so young?
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend simultaneous administration of childhood vaccines where appropriate. However, it’s natural to be concerned – after all, children receive anything up to 23 shots by the time they’re 6 and as many as six at one time.
It is a challenge to your baby’s immune system but it’s nothing he can’t handle – after all, our bodies are exposed to a host of different bacteria and viruses every day. Vaccinations are a drop in the ocean compared to what your child encounters in his environment: in the food he eats, the air he breathes. Plus, the potency of vaccines has decreased hugely since the early days – the old smallpox vaccine alone contained around 200 viral proteins, while the 11 recommended vaccines kids get today contain 130.
I’ve heard that catching the disease itself gives a child better immunity – doesn’t that mean he’s better off taking his chances?
That is the case with some diseases, but with others – such as Hib, pneumococcal meningitis and tetanus, the vaccines give stronger immunity. But you need to consider the side-effects of catching the actual diseases – although serious complications are rare, they do exist. Polio could leave your child paralyzed, while measles, mumps and rubella could potentially harm his hearing and vision and cause brain damage. These diseases kill too: worldwide, measles alone kills around 500,000 children a year. Vaccines are our best defense against these diseases.
What about the link with autism?
Two scientific studies carried out in the UK during the 90s indicated there might be a link between the MMR and autism, but further investigations have not replicated the findings and have also suggested the methods used in the original studies were flawed. Further research has suggested that the increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism is not associated with any increase in the use of the MMR, and that the incidence of autism is the same in children whether they’ve had the MMR or not. Other research has indicated that autism may be related to abnormalities in the development of an unborn baby’s central nervous system, and subtle signs of the disorder have been reported in babies under 1, well below the age at which the MMR is given.
I’m concerned about mercury in vaccines – could it harm my baby?
Many vaccines used to incorporate a preservative called thimerosal, which contains mercury, but it’s no longer used in vaccines routinely given to children in the US*. While the amount of mercury in older vaccines was within acceptable levels set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), it exceeded levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Four large studies have shown that the incidence of autism was the same among groups of children who had and hadn’t been given vaccines containing thimerosal. Mercury is a naturally occurring element and is found, in low levels, in water, infant formula and breast milk – in fact, a baby who is exclusively breastfed ingests more than twice the amount of mercury contained in vaccines, and 15 times the amount contained in the flu vaccine.
*The flu vaccine does still contain thimerosal
I’ve heard vaccinations can cause fevers. Will my baby be affected?
While vaccines are safe, like any medicine they can cause reactions. Usually any reaction is mild: your baby may suffer soreness or redness where the shot is given, or a low-grade fever for a couple of days. More serious reactions are rare but they do happen, and may be due to your child being allergic to a substance contained within a vaccine. If your child seems to have difficulty breathing after a vaccination, develops a rapid heartbeat or starts to wheeze, call 911.