Immunizations
Why do children need so many shots?
Some of us may have gotten only 3 vaccines as children: DTP, polio, and smallpox. There were no vaccines for measles, chickenpox, mumps, and other diseases — which meant that many of us also got those diseases! The simple answer to why children get so many shots is because they can. Scientists have developed vaccines against more diseases, and we give them to our children to protect them from those diseases. Children don’t get smallpox vaccine any more because we have eradicated the disease. Within our lifetimes, we may also eradicate polio, and that vaccine too will no longer be needed. More combination vaccines may also reduce the number of shots children will need. At the same time, vaccines may be developed to protect us against even more diseases.
Why are vaccines given at such an early age?
Vaccines are given at an early age because the diseases they prevent can strike at an early age. The ages at which vaccines are recommended are not arbitrary. They are chosen to give children the earliest and best protection against disease.
What if my child misses a dose of vaccine?.
They can continue the series where they left off. Vaccinations are not rendered invalid and do not have to be repeated when there is a longer-than-recommended interval between doses in a series
How safe are vaccines?
They are very safe. But like any medicine, they are not perfect. They can cause reactions. Usually these are mild, like a sore arm or slight fever. Serious reactions are very uncommon. Your health-care provider will discuss the risks with you before your child gets each vaccine, and will give you a form called a Vaccine Information Statement, which describes the vaccine’s benefits and risks. The important thing to remember is that vaccines are much safer than the diseases they prevent.
What will happen if my child doesn’t get his vaccinations?
One of two things could happen:
If your child goes through life without ever being exposed to any of these diseases, nothing will happen.
If your child is exposed to one of these diseases, there is a good chance he will get it. What happens then depends on the child and the disease. Most likely he would get ill and have to stay in bed for a few days up to 1–2 weeks. But he could also get very sick and have to go to the hospital. At the very worst, he could die. In addition, he could also spread the disease to other children or adults who are not immune.
What are my child’s chances of being exposed to one of these diseases?
Overall, quite low. Some of these diseases have become very rare in the United States (thanks to immunizations), so the chances of exposure are small. Others, such as varicella and pertussis, are still relatively common. Some are rare in the U.S. but common elsewhere in the world, so there is risk not only to travelers, but also to anyone exposed to travelers from other countries visiting here.
If my child’s risk of exposure to disease is so low, why should I bother getting him immunized?
This is a good question. One answer, of course, is that even if the risk of getting these diseases is low, it is not zero. Even if only one child in the whole country gets diphtheria this year, that child has a 1 in 10 chance of dying. Vaccination would have protected him.
But there is also another answer. With diseases growing more uncommon, parents should think not only of their own children but also of other children and of future generations of children.
What would happen if enough parents stopped immunizing their children?
We know the answer, because it has already happened in several countries, including Great Britain and Japan, where many people in the 1970s stopped using pertussis vaccine because they were afraid it was not safe. In 1974, Japan had only 393 cases of pertussis and no deaths. Then within the next few years pertussis vaccination rates dropped from 80% to 10%, and in 1979 the country suffered a major pertussis epidemic with more than 13,000 cases and 41 deaths.
What to Do if Your Child Has a Reaction
Most children do not have any reactions to vaccines. Among those who do, the large majority are minor local reactions (pain, swelling or redness at the injection site) or a mild fever. These go away within a day or two and don’t normally require any special treatment.
But what if your child has a more serious reaction, such as a severe allergic reaction? Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness. If your child shows these symptoms after getting vaccinations — or if she shows other unusual symptoms, such as a high fever or behavior changes — don’t hesitate:
- Call a doctor or get the child to a doctor right away.
- Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
Your health-care provider can answer your questions and advise you about the use of vaccines
Links
Immunization Action Coalition - Sources of childhood and adolescent immunization information.