It can convincingly be argued that the development and distribution of vaccines is one of the greatest developments for our health and well-being in world history. Before the development of vaccines, the following was common every year in the United States:
- Polio would paralyze 10,000 children
- Measles would infect 4 million children and 3,000 would die
- Rubella would lead to birth defects or developmental delays in 20,000 newborns
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (HiB) would cause meningitis in 15,000 children
That’s just a small sample of what life was like without vaccinations. In fact, when Nicklaus Children’s Hospital first opened in the 1960s, many of the children treated had polio.
Vaccine Types
All vaccines are preventative treatments that are designed to stimulate the immune system into creating antibodies to fight a specific disease. That way, you’ll be protected if exposed in the future. Though they are all similar in purpose, several different types of vaccines exist:
- mRNA vaccines teach the body to recreate part of the virus’s genetic code and then produce antibodies to fight it
- Viral vector vaccines use a harmless vaccine to transport the harmful virus’s genetic code into the body
- Live-attenuated vaccines use a weakened and harmless virus to trigger the body’s immune response
- Inactivated vaccines use a dead virus or bacteria to produce an immune response
In all cases, these vaccine types are rigorously tested according to very stringent guidelines and highly regulated. By the time any vaccine is approved for use, it has been through a lengthy and extensive approval process, and you can be assured of its safety for both you and your children.
Reasons for Vaccination Delays
Despite all this overwhelming evidence of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, a variety of factors have led to vaccination delays — or forgoing vaccinations altogether — even today. For some, these decisions are grounded in religious beliefs, while others are based on misinformation about vaccines spread through social media or other channels.
The COVID-19 pandemic was another factor in children missing or being delayed in getting their needed vaccines. According to UNICEF, 23 million children did not receive basic vaccines in 2020, which was 3.7 million more missed vaccines than 2019 and the highest number of missed vaccines since 2009. Perhaps even more concerning, it’s estimated that as many as 17 million children did not receive a single vaccine in 2020.
Combatting Vaccine Myths
Unfortunately, myths about vaccines tend to run so rampant these days that it’s helpful for parents to get the truth from a trusted health care professional. I hear so many myths about vaccines on a daily basis that I decided to compile a list of important “truths” about vaccines:
- Vaccines do not cause autism
- Vaccines do not infect you with the virus
- Vaccines do not affect your DNA
- Even if you contract the virus, vaccines can lessen the severity of disease
- Childhood vaccines are necessary and formulated with kids in mind
Why “Setting Your Own Schedule” Is a Bad Idea
Another common bit of misinformation related to vaccines is the notion of “setting your own schedule” for your child’s vaccinations. The false rationale behind this idea is that spacing vaccines out more will prevent you from overloading your child’s immune system with too many vaccines. The reality, however, is that both vaccinations and the schedule in which they are administered is rigorously and continuously researched and tested. Scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports adhering to your pediatrician’s approved vaccination schedule.
As a pediatrician, I can understand why parents might be concerned when their infants are given several vaccines early in life. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not only are they proven to be safe, but babies are highly susceptible to harm from many of these diseases. Serious side effects related to vaccinations are extremely rare, and in most cases, the side effects (if any) include pain, tenderness or redness at the injection site.
The Implications of Missed Vaccines
While vaccines are effective at protecting the individual from disease, their greatest impact is due to “herd immunity.” This proven concept has shown that when many people are immunized against a specific disease, it provides protection to everyone in the community, even the unvaccinated or immunocompromised. Herd immunity at a high level has been shown to eradicate diseases from entire nations or continents.
When herd immunity is not achieved, however, the consequences can be dire. Diseases with low rates of infection can see resurgences, and diseases that were eradicated can return through international travel. Sadly, this has already been seen recently in the U.S. According to the nonprofit group Vaccinate Your Family, recent outbreaks of whooping cough, measles, mumps, meningitis, HPV, hepatitis A and more have all occurred here.
What Parents Can Do
If you’re concerned that your child may be behind on their vaccination schedule, or you’re not sure, the best course of action is to schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician. They can go over your child’s immunization history and provide the proper course of action for getting your child caught up. Remember, not only are vaccines the best way to protect your child from dangerous diseases, but they help protect the entire community, as well.