Its a confusing time to be a parent, especially when it comes tovaccines.
The internet is rife with misinformation, making it hard to separate vaccine fact from fiction.
(We combed through data too.)
Heather Hazzan. Wardrobe styling by Ronald Burton. Prop styling by Campbell Pearson. Hair by Hide Suzuki. Makeup by Deanna Melluso at See Management. Shot on location at One Medical.
Were all on the same team.
We all want your child to grow up happy and healthy and not get diseases that we can avoid.
Whats the point in getting vaccines if theyre not 100 percent effective?
Its true that in an ideal world, vaccines would be 100 percent effective.
In the meantime vaccines are still our first line of defense againstvaccine-preventable diseases.
Even though theyre not perfect, they do a pretty damn good job.
(Apologies if this vaccine wasnt available to you when you were a kid.)
Even vaccines that arent as effective are still crucial for keeping you and your family safe.
That may not sound like much, but it can make a huge impact.
Seat belts arent 100 percent effective in preventing death in a car accident, he tells SELF.
Is it possible for vaccines to make someone sick with the illness theyre supposed to prevent?
Almost never, says Dr. Ratner.
In most cases its not even biologically possible.
This means they cant cause disease.
An example is the hepatitis B vaccine.
In the vast majority of cases kids cant even contract illnesses from live, attenuated vaccines.
Also worth noting here: Vaccines dont work immediately.
Can my babys immune system handle the recommended vaccination schedule or multiple vaccines at once?
Luckily thats not how it works.
Your baby might seem defenseless, but their immune system is not a delicate flower, says Dr. Ratner.
Plus vaccines only contain a tiny fraction of the antigens your baby normally encounters on a daily basis.
The above still applies if your child is getting multiple vaccines at once.
Even then their immune system can handle it.
What are the possible side effects of vaccines?
As with any medication, vaccines can cause some side effects.
The chance of a serious reaction to a vaccine such as a severe allergic reaction is extremely low.
This kind of thing is estimated to happen with fewer than one in a million vaccine doses, theCDCsays.
Vaccines can also cause mild fevers as a normal part of their intended immune response.
Very rarely these fevers can lead to short seizures that dont cause any lasting harm, theCDCexplains.
These are known as febrile seizures and theyre very unlikely to happen in connection with vaccines.
They only affect at most about 30 of every 100,000 vaccinated children, according to theCDC.
Febrile seizures can also happen when a childs temperature is going down.
It’s a good question, but as of now there’s no way to prevent febrile seizures.
(Remember, although febrile seizures look frightening they dont cause children any permanent harm.)
(Which, again, is rare.)
The decision not to vaccinate is associated with risk too.
Why do kids need to be immunized if a disease has been eliminated?
The reason certain diseases have been eliminated in the United States isbecauseof vaccines.
As weve seen with the recentmeaslesoutbreaks, if enough people dont vaccinate against something it can come back.
They think, We dont see measles here anymore, why would I take any risk?
And the response is: You are taking a risk by not getting vaccinated.
Lower vaccination rates reduceherd immunity.
This goes back to the seat belt metaphor.
Why is the vaccine schedule updated so frequently?
With that in mind, year-to-year changes dont generally reflect safety data.
Circling back to the whole car safety thing: Think of how updated car models come out every year.
A newer, fancier model doesnt automatically mean that older ones are suddenly obsolete or dangerous.
Are vaccines linked to autism?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Absolutely not.
There are also thimerosal-free formulations of the influenza vaccine, theCDCsays.
(But theCDCand similar public health organizations have not recommended avoiding vaccines with thimerosal for any reason.)
Its actually increased, which underscores that vaccines do not cause autism.
Is there ever a reason to get vaccines early or ahead of schedule?
Is it possible and safe to get vaccines earlier than recommended for maximum protection?
Yes, under some circumstances.
So why not just get vaccines as early as possible if it’s safe to do so?
What if I cant afford to get my child vaccinated?
Vaccinationsare generally cheaperor even freeat a public clinic or health department versus at a private physicians office.
What happens if I choose not to vaccinate my child?
Doctors strongly advise against this.
Think of vaccines as a gift it’s possible for you to give your kids, says Dr. Milstone.
This story is part of a larger package called Vaccines Save Lives.
you’re able to find the rest of the packagehere.
