Popular Immunization Myths Busted
When vaccinations were first introduced to the public in the 1800s, they were hailed as a miracle of modern medicine. Individuals began to hope the illnesses killing off so many children and adults could finally be defeated. Over time, the public view has gradually transformed from hopeful to suspicious. Many individuals fear vaccines may be causing more harm than good. Unfortunately, a lot of public misinformation makes it hard for people to actually be informed about vaccinations. If you are trying to decide whether or not you and your children need vaccinations, it is important to realize many common statements about vaccines are actually myths. Here's what you need to know about vaccines.
Vaccines Cause Autism
This is the myth that started all of the public backlash against vaccination. Back in 1998, Andrew Wakefield published a study linking autism to the MMR vaccine. Since then, Wakefield's findings have been thoroughly disproven. It started when scientists began to criticize the ethics of the study because Wakefield was treating patients improperly and trying to patent a vaccine that would compete with the MMR vaccine. They then discovered he blatantly falsified evidence to come to his conclusion.
Countless other studies have been done on the subject, and none of them have found any link between autism and vaccinations. All of those claiming vaccines cause autism are using a fake study by a shady doctor who is forbidden from practicing medicine anymore. It is also worth noting individuals refusing vaccinations because they think vaccines cause autism may end up with consequences more challenging to deal with than autism. Autism does not always keep a person from living normally, and vaccines are typically protecting against diseases that may paralyze or kill a person.
Continue reading to learn about the myth about infant immune systems.
The Infant Immune Systems Can't Handle So Many Vaccines
The idea of exposing a fragile infant to so many illnesses can seem frightening to many parents, so it is understandable for some to consider waiting until the child is older. However, the claim that the infant immune systems can't handle so many vaccines is untrue. Since infant immune systems are so fragile, it is actually more important for them to get vaccines than adults.
Keep in mind the amount of inactive germs in a vaccine is very tiny. They are carefully calculated to be an appropriate dosage for a baby, and doctors have spent a lot of time finding the right timing for vaccinations. The Center for Disease Control's vaccine schedule is actually carefully crafted to keep infants as safe as possible. For example, the MMR vaccine recommendations are timed so a baby gets the vaccine right when it loses its residual immunity from its mother. In general, your infant will actually be safer if you stick to the schedule instead of trying to delay.
Continue reading to disprove the claim about unsafe toxins.
Vaccines Contain Unsafe Toxins
Many of the concerns about vaccination surround the idea vaccines use toxic chemicals as a preservative or method of transport. Hearing others tell you vaccines contain mercury and formaldehyde can definitely seem intimidating. However, the FDA explains the amount of formaldehyde someone is exposed to during vaccination is so tiny, it is less than the amount our bodies naturally produce.
It is also worth noting when individuals talk about mercury in a vaccine, they are not talking about the toxic methylmercury that builds up in the body to toxic levels. Instead, vaccines use ethylmercury, which leaves the body without causing any problems within days. Even though these ingredients are not too dangerous, many manufacturers are phasing them out to ease worries about vaccines containing unsafe toxins.
Continue reading to learn about the myth surrounding getting simultaneous vaccines.
It's Better To Get Vaccines One At A Time
As doctors began recommending more and more vaccinations, many parents worried their children might get sick from an overload of vaccines. This led to many thinking it's better to get vaccines one at a time. However, this significantly underestimates the human immune system. As soon as we are born, we have plenty of B and T immune cells that work to develop antibodies against foreign organisms.
Experts have calculated even young children can respond to ten thousand vaccines at a single time. Therefore, you have nothing to worry about from just the eleven recommended vaccines. Getting multiple vaccinations at once is often preferable because many of them can be mixed. This reduces the number of shots children have to take, so it is less traumatic.
Continue reading to learn about the myth related to herd immunity.
Everyone I Know Is Vaccinated So I Won't Catch It
In theory, this myth seems pretty sound. You assume as long as everyone around you is vaccinated, no one will get the condition, including you. True, vaccinations have helped to eradicate dangerous diseases like smallpox so thoroughly that many individuals do not bother with getting vaccinated for it anymore. However, the whole idea of "everyone I know is vaccinated so I won't catch it" does not work as well for common diseases.
It only works if literally everyone who would ever come into contact with any surface or environment you would ever touch has been vaccinated. As more and more individuals begin skipping vaccines, it is tough to guarantee herd immunity will protect you from outbreaks. Even if everyone else in your town is vaccinated, one person could go to another area, carry back germs they are immune to, and infect you accidentally.