Common Myths About Immunizations: An Overview

November 21, 2009

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Common Myths About Immunizations: An Overview

by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.

If you are like most parents, you want to do everything in your power to keep your child healthy. Although you know that having your child fully immunized on time is an important way to help achieve your goal, you also may have some concerns about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

While conflicting information does exist, the bottom line is that routinely recommended childhood vaccines are safe and effective. Furthermore, the risks of serious problems following immunization are much less than the diseases themselves pose for your child. However, you'll feel more comfortable having your child immunized if you are fully informed, and able to distinguish the myths from the facts about vaccines.

We will address some of the most common myths that you are likely to hear about immunizations in general, as well as about specific vaccines. If you are interested in keeping up to date about childhood immunizations, we encourage you to check our site regularly.

Click on the following to learn more about some of these common vaccine myths:

Myth: Diseases Were Going Away Before Vaccines

Myth: Vaccines Don't Work

Myth: My Child Doesn't Need to be Immunized

Myth: Breastfed Babies Don't Need Vaccines

Myth: It's Better to Get the Disease Than the Vaccine

Myth: Vaccines Aren't Safe

Myth: My Child Can Get the Disease From the Vaccine

Myth: Vaccines Can Cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Myth: There Are "Hot Lots" of Vaccine

Myth: The Immune System Can be Overwhelmed by Vaccines

Other sources of immunization information

Other valuable sources of information on immunizations include:

The National Immunization Program (NIP) site at www.cdc.gov/nip.

The National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) site at www.immunizationinfo.org.

The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) site at www.immunize.org.

The American Academy of Pediatrics site at www.aap.org/family/parents/immunize.htm.

The Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia site at www.vaccine.chop.edu.

If you have other concerns about immunizations, you should ask your healthcare provider for more information.

Adapted from the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) Copyright 2000, and the National Immunization Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


RELATED INFORMATION

			Immunization Myths

Created December 20, 2000
Reviewed December 21, 2000

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