Dr. Bob: I am a first-time mother, and my husband and I are very worried about all of the shots we hear that our baby will need. We hear that they have multiple side effects and are not really pure. All of those shots just don’t seem safe to us. We have heard that they can cause autism. Should we split them up or give them over an extended period of time? What are your recommendations?
Answer: Thank you for the question. Let me state at the outset that vaccinations have proved to be one of the greatest advancements in the history of medicine and public health! For example, rampant epidemics of polio and the measles (both of which can cause serious nervous system problems) in the early years of my life, the 1950s, have now been essentially eliminated. During my training in the 1970s, I cared for multiple children that did not survive or suffered serious illness due to infections that we do not see now. The medical trainees of today do not see most of those infections. Why? Because of vaccinations! Vaccinations save lives. I gave all the shots available to my children and am now assuring that my grandchildren get the same.
Let me emphasize several things –
- Vaccines are incredibly pure. They have a very narrow range of proteins (called antigens) that are injected. This narrow range is for a specific targeted purpose, to alert the immune system to a possible infection and generate an immune response. Remember that your children will be exposed to thousands of antigens daily (just by living). Fortunately now, some vaccinations have several antigens combined into one shot to reduce the total number of shots.
- Vaccines are safe. They have been tested and tested and tested, undergoing rigorous standards. Are they perfect? No, they aren’t. Nothing is, but they are much safer than taking a chance on a preventable infection.
- Vaccines do not cause autism. This have been proven time and time again. The early evidence that suggested that vaccines could cause autism has been discredited. The fact that the myth persists about vaccines and autism is so unfortunate and shows how easily falsehoods can circulate and linger, especially due to social media.
- Some folks have suggested changing the recommended timing of vaccines. This has no basis in fact. The vaccine schedule has been specifically set up to deliver vaccines when they are most needed. Infants and toddlers need certain vaccines, school age children need certain vaccines, and teens need certain vaccines. Altering the schedule makes no sense and might actually render some vaccines less than effective. The multiple shots recommended early in life have a specific purpose – to protect vulnerable infants when they need it most.
- Remember that vaccines have a tremendous role in keeping our population healthy. Even if we don’t see polio or measles now, stopping the vaccines can lead to outbreaks in unvaccinated people and cause great havoc. This has occurred and is so preventable.
- Some anti-vaccination folks argue that natural immunity is so much better than vaccinations. Some children will have serious illness or even die from natural infections. I want to protect them from those outcomes.
I strongly encourage you and your husband to be sure that our child gets all of their shots. Talk with your pediatrician if you have further questions. Preventable infections should remain preventable for the sake of our own children and everyone else’s children.
Dr. Saul is Professor of Pediatrics (Emeritus) at Prisma Health and his website is www.mychildrenschildren.com. Contact Dr. Bob at askdrbobsaul@gmail.com with more questions.