got questions about child vaccinations? well in this interview we invited Claire Powell who is a nurse specialist with the Health Protection Team in North Wales, UK to answer some of your questions surrounding child vaccines.
Do babies need to be vaccinated? Read more…
Are vaccines still necessary? Are they harmful? It is difficult to make an informed decision about vaccinating your child with all the myths surrounding vaccines and they recent media claims regarding them.
Myth 1 – These Diseases Are Gone So We Don’t Need Vaccines
Many parents who have chosen not to vaccinate their children do so under the belief that the diseases that the vaccines protect against are no longer a threat. Since we typically no longer see the effects of devastating diseases such as polio it seems like these diseases no longer exist. These diseases do still exist. While they may be almost gone in developed countries, all it takes is one plane ride to expose someone to a potentially deadly threat. As the numbers of people who choose not to vaccinate their children rises, so will the threat that these diseases will return. Recent mumps outbreaks in young adults are an indication that these diseases are still around.
Myth 2 – The Side Effects Are Too Dangerous
Can vaccines cause side effects? Yes, they can. Some children can be allergic to something in the vaccine, and others will have a neurological response to the vaccine and perhaps experience a seizure. So there is a risk when you give your child a vaccine, but these types of reactions are very rare. After receiving a vaccine, most children typically experience a low grade fever.
The most controversial potential side effect of immunizations is autism. Some parents claim that their children developed autism after receiving a vaccine. There have not yet been any definitive scientific studies which indicate that vaccines are the root cause of autism for most children, even though the symptoms seem too appear in a similar time as the vaccines. Autism can still develop in children who have never been vaccinated, indicating there are other underlying causes for this disease. In very rare cases, a severe neurological reaction to a vaccine can cause a child to develop a permanent condition such as autism, but vaccines cannot be linked definitively to most autism cases. The risk of a child getting one of the diseases the vaccines protect against is far higher than the risk of the child developing autism as a result of the vaccine.
Myth 3 – Breastfeeding Means My Child Doesn’t Need Vaccines
There is no doubt that breastfeeding provides your baby with important immunities. However, there are some antibodies that are not passed on through ****** milk, including serious conditions like polio and diphtheria. Also, the antibodies do not last once your baby is weaned, but the immunity that a vaccine provides is lifelong.
In reality, all vaccines do carry some risks. It is impossible to know for sure you baby will not have a reaction to any vaccine in much the same manner you do not know if your child will have a reaction to the foods you introduce to her. The danger of the diseases that vaccines protect against is very high, however, so you as a parent must weigh that danger against the risk of the vaccine and make a decision for yourself.
