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The CDC Addresses Vaccination Concerns

In my continuing effort to take information from other sources and make it available to the patients of Meyer Pediatrics, I have copied here the handout from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that addresses some of the common concerns that parents might have about the safety of routine childhood vaccines.

The bottom line is that NONE of the required vaccines for children contain mercury (thimerisol), there has NEVER been a single case of mercury toxicity from vaccines EVER reported, and autism is a genetic entity and there are NO well-done studies that suggest a link between vaccines and autism. Read on!

Common Concerns About Childhood Vaccinations

Infants and children get a lot of shots (vaccinations) to prevent against many different diseases. For this reason, parents or caregivers sometimes ask their healthcare provider to space apart, separate, or even not give some vaccines. Parents are worried that their child cannot handle so many shots at the same time. This is one of many concerns that parents may have about vaccinations. This handout provides the facts about vaccines, to help parents make an informed decision about what’s best for their child.

CONCERN
“Infants get too many shots at once.”
FACTS
Infants do get a lot of shots. But, they could handle even more. Each day, infants come into contact with millions of particles such as pollen, viruses, and bacteria that trigger their immune system. The “immune system triggers” in vaccines are only a very small amount compared to those found in your child’s environment. Vaccines will not “overload” your child’s immune system.
Some parents think that it would be better if their child didn’t get so many shots at the same time. But delaying or not giving some vaccinations is not a good idea. Doing this could leave your child unprotected against certain diseases. Many childhood diseases are dangerous for young children. So it’s best to make sure your baby is protected by not delaying their shots. Also, it is much easier to stay up to date with your child’s shots, than to try and catch up.

CONCERN
“Vaccines have too many side effects. Besides, vaccine-prevented illnesses are not that serious.”
FACTS
Before vaccines were available, many infants and children died from diseases we can now prevent. The diseases that vaccines prevent can be very dangerous. In fact, diseases such as whooping cough, polio, measles, etc. could be much worse and more dangerous for your child than the side effects of any vaccine. Even chickenpox can be serious. One in 200,000 unvaccinated infants who get chickenpox die…one in 100,000 older kids die…and one in 500 are hospitalized.

CONCERN
“Everyone else gets vaccines, so my child doesn’t need them.”
FACTS
It is true that your child has less of a chance of getting sick when your child plays with other children who have had their shots. But this doesn’t mean that your child can’t get sick. To be protected, your child must also get their shots. A good example of this is measles and whooping cough. Even though most children get vaccinated, children who do not get their shots have gotten measles or whopping cough, and some have even died.
Also, children who don’t get vaccines may get the disease, and then spread it to people who can’t be vaccinated or who could become seriously ill (e.g., newborn infants, pregnant women, older people).

CONCERN
“Vaccines are not tested enough.”
FACTS
Just like medicines, vaccines are tested in many children for a long time before they are given to all children. Most vaccines are tested in even more children and for an even longer time than most medicines that you give your child.

CONCERN
“Vaccines contain things which are not safe for my child.”
FACTS
Shots that are given to infants and children are safe. Shots for infants and children do not have mercury in them anymore. Some shots do have aluminum in them, but the amount of aluminum is much smaller than the amount of aluminum found in baby formula.

CONCERN
“Vaccines cause autism.”
FACTS
Some people think that the thimerosal or mercury in vaccines causes autism. But this has never been proven. Actually, common pediatric vaccines, with the exception of some flu shots, no longer contain thimerosal or mercury and haven’t since 2001. Those flu shots that do have thimerosal or mercury contain a very small amount, AND it’s a different form than the mercury that is linked with brain and nerve injury. One is methyl mercury, and the other is ethyl mercury. Different entities entirely.

PROTECT YOUR CHILD AND VACCINATE
Infants and children receive more vaccines than ever before. But, these vaccines are safe and protect our children from serious diseases. If you have concerns about any vaccine your child is to get, talk to Dr Ted or Nurse Kay. Remember, vaccines save lives! Do not let the extremists who mistakenly believe that ALL vaccines are bad trick you into making a dangerous mistake. Your child’s health literally is at stake.