It is normal for parents to have reservations about getting vaccinations for themselves or their children. At RediClinic, we believe education about vaccines is the best way to help concerned parents. Many misconceptions about vaccines continue to persist due to a lack of understanding about vaccination and how it works. Here are a few common misunderstandings related to vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Misconception: The immune system of a child can be overloaded by receiving multiple vaccines at once.
Available data has shown that simultaneous vaccination with multiple vaccines has no negative effect on the normal childhood immune system. In addition, many studies have demonstrated that combination vaccines are as effective as those given individually and do not increase the risk for adverse side effects. Vaccination with combination vaccines is also less invasive and often less traumatic for a child.
Misconception: Vaccine-preventable diseases have been virtually eliminated, so there is no need for my child to be vaccinated.
Although polio has been eradicated from the United States, it and many other vaccine-preventable diseases are still common in other areas of the world and can be brought back into the country by travelers. As demonstrated by the recent outbreaks of measles, once-common diseases can begin to circulate again when vaccination rates among the general population are not adequate.
Misconception: The majority of people who contract diseases have been vaccinated.
No vaccine is 100% effective because a very small percentage of vaccinated people will not develop immunity. The CDC estimates that this happens about 1% to 5% of the time, depending on the vaccine. Assuming that 98 of every 100 people who are vaccinated will successfully develop immunity against a disease, only 2% of vaccinated people will fall ill – compared to 100% of unvaccinated individuals. However, due to the large number of immunized people in the United States, this means that when there’s a disease outbreak, of those who become sick, the vaccinated-but-unprotected group will outnumber the unvaccinated group. This does not mean that a vaccine does not work; it means it did work for nearly everyone.
Get Immunized Against Serious Vaccine-Preventable Diseases at RediClinic
Researchers now link falling immunization rates to recent resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases. Protect yourself and your family by getting all recommended vaccines at your nearest RediClinic. Back-to-school physicals are a great time to ensure your child is up-to-date with all immunizations, so walk into a RediClinic near you today for the care your family needs, seven days a week.
Stay tuned for Part Two of this blog, where we’ll examine more misconceptions about vaccines.
