Vaccination
1. How do vaccines work?
Vaccines contain the same germ that causes disease.
But the germs in the vaccine have been killed or weakened so that they do not make you sick.
When you get immunized, your body is tricked into thinking that it has been infected with the disease. It makes antibodies that kill the germs. These antibodies stay in your body for a long time and remember how to fight the germ. If the germs from the disease enter your body in the future, the antibodies destroy the germs before you can become sick. It is much safer to get a vaccine than the disease.
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2. Are vaccines safe?
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Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. Getting immunized is the best way to protect against vaccine preventable diseases.
Some people worry that vaccines can cause other health problems, such as autism. Research shows that there is no link between vaccines and autism or any other illnesses.
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3. What are the risks of not immunizing or not immunizing on time?
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Getting immunized is the best way to protect against vaccine preventable diseases. Not getting immunized can be serious and even deadly for you and others around you.
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4. Lets see common myths about vaccination:
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Myth #1: Vaccines cause autism.
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Some people believe that vaccines cause autism. This is not true.
Because children are often diagnosed with autism around the same time as they are immunized, people often think that the immunizations caused the autism. But just because things happen close together does not mean that one thing caused the other.
Many scientific studies have shown there is no link between autism and immunization, including the MMR vaccine.
Scientific studies also show that vaccination does not cause multiple sclerosis, diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and other diseases.
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Myth #2: Vaccines aren't safe.
Vaccines are very safe and effective.
Getting vaccinated is much safer than getting the disease.
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Myth #3: Vaccines contain toxic ingredients.
Vaccines do not contain toxic ingredients. Vaccines go through extensive testing to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
Each vaccine contains a small amount of the disease germ (virus/bacteria/toxoid) or parts of the germ. The germs are either dead or weakened, and the toxoids do not cause disease.
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Myth #4: The flu shot causes the flu.
The flu is mainly spread through sneezing, coughing and coming in close contact with someone who has the flu. There is no evidence to show that the flu shot causes the flu.
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The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine. It cannot give you the flu because it contains killed flu viruses that cannot cause infection.
Common reactions to the flu shot include redness and swelling where the vaccine is given. Some people may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. These symptoms are expected reactions from the flu shot. They are usually mild and last 1 to 2 days.
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Myth #5: Multiple vaccines increase the risk of side effects or negative reactions.
Research shows that giving multiple vaccines (more than one) at one time is both safe and effective and does not increase side effects. Even when multiple vaccines are given at the same time, expected side effects such as redness, soreness or swelling where the shot was given will be mild and will only last a day or two.
Changing schedules to spread shots over several visits can leave your child at risk for vaccine preventable diseases and can mean multiple visits to your health care professional which can increase their risk of developing anxiety and needle fear.
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Myth #6: Natural Immunity Is Better Than Vaccination
While it is true that getting sick with a disease can provide immunity, it is also true that the consequences of getting sick can be severe, even deadly.
Vaccines provide a safe and effective way to protect against diseases without the risk of severe illness or death.