All parents want to keep their little ones safe. And so we worry often about protecting them — What are the ingredients in this juice? Will this new lotion irritate Baby? Is this babysitter a good choice? And some parents have questions about vaccines. Thankfully, this is one worry that you can cross off your list. Vaccines are incredibly safe. They’re one of the best tools we have to keep ourselves and those around us protected from serious disease and illness.
Vaccines have a decisive track record. For more than 50 years, they’ve helped protect children from disease and illness. Most vaccines administered during childhood are incredibly effective at preventing disease — from 90-99%. And on the rare chance that a vaccinated child does get the disease they’ve been vaccinated against, usually the symptoms are significantly milder.
Vaccines have had successful results for decades – and there is a lot that happens before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a vaccine and a healthcare professional administers it to your little one.
Vaccines go through rounds of rigorous clinical study as they’re developed and trials before they’re ever made widely available.Then they need to meet standards for safety and effectiveness before they can be licensed by the FDA. Results of studies are reviewed by many organizations — like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — before any vaccine is recommended for children. Once vaccines are approved more widely, they continue to be closely monitored to ensure safety and quality.
Vaccines are safe — even for newborns. There is a recommended vaccine schedule for children in their first year, as they grow into childhood, and onward. Because some diseases and illnesses can be especially dangerous for very young children, vaccines are scheduled to provide the most protection as early as possible. (It should be noted that because some vaccines contain egg protein, if an individual has an egg allergy, they should consult their doctor.)
Vaccines are credited with preventing countless illnesses and millions of deaths. If you have vaccine questions , be sure to speak with your child’s healthcare provider. They will be able to assure you of the safety and importance of vaccines, and ensure that your child is on a regular schedule.
Sources
- “Immunizations.” healthychildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved January 3 2020. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/default.aspx.
- “Making the Vaccine Decision: Addressing Common Concerns.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, August 5 2019. Retrieved January 3 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/why-vaccinate/vaccine-decision.html.
- “Q&A on vaccines.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization, August 26 2019. Retrieved January 3 2020. https://www.who.int/vaccines/questions-and-answers.
- “Vaccines for your children.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 18 2019. Retrieved January 3 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html.
- “Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence.” healthychildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, July 24 2018. Retrieved January 3 2020. “https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Vaccine-Studies-Examine-the-Evidence.aspx.
- “Vaccine Safety: The Facts.” healthychildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, October 10 2018. Retrieved January 3 2020. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Vaccine-Safety-The-Facts.aspx.
- “Vaccines: The Myths and The Facts.” American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, August 19 2019. Retrieved January 3 2020. https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/vaccine-myth-fact.
