Vaccines = Prevention!

In recent years there has been some backlash against vaccination that has arisen, leading many parents to question whether they’re actually safe for children. They worry about the potential cause of disorders such as autism or even death in some very rare cases. The bottom line is, while vaccines do have pros and cons (as does nearly every medical treatment) the former far outweigh the latter, as medical evidence overwhelmingly shows.

The primary worry about vaccinations causing autism came from a 1998 study linking the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine with increased risk of autism. While it and its author, Andrew Wakefield, have since been debunked, others took up the claim. Another concern is that thimerosal, a compound containing mercury which has been used as a preservative in vaccines, could also trigger autism, ADHD, and speech delays in children. As a precautionary measure, thimerosal was taken out or significantly reduced in 1999, and a 2004 report from the Institute of Medicine’s Immunization Safety Review Committee “favor[s] rejection of a causal relationship” between thimerosal and autism.

The concern over what’s in vaccines has more parents than ever before avoiding vaccinating their children and depending on herd immunity to keep their children safe from diseases. Herd immunity means keeping unvaccinated children around vaccinated people who will “shield” them from potential diseases. The anti-vaxxer movement has also found some celebrity champions and doctors who still claim vaccines aren’t necessary and encourage people to depend on herd immunity.

On the other hand, countries who had similar fears saw what happened when vaccination levels dropped: For example, according to the CDC, in 1974 about 80 percent of Japanese children got the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine.  When immunization rates dropped to about 10 percent, in 1979, more than 13,000 people got whooping cough and 41 died, as opposed to 393 cases and no deaths in 1974. When immunization levels were high, the incidents were dramatically lower.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Institute of Medicine all state that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the few risks. Vaccination has cut down on diseases that used to cause death to thousands or leave them with potentially crippling side effects. Most importantly, vaccines have not eliminated diseases, which is why it’s so important to get immunizations – it’s the best and safest way to keep them at bay now and for future generations.

To read more about health and wellness, read our related blog posts!

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