Vaccines are safe, effective, and critical for public health. However, misinformation about vaccines can decrease immunization rates, leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases. Vaccines are one of the most powerful ways to protect your child's health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. At Door County Medical Center (DCMC), we are committed to promoting the benefits of vaccines and ensuring that all children receive the recommended immunizations.

Insurance often covers immunization, and programs like the Vaccines for Children (VFC) provide free vaccines to eligible families. By keeping your child's vaccinations current, you're taking an essential step in protecting their health and the entire community's well-being.

Why Vaccinate Your Children?

Advances in medical science have made it possible to protect children against more diseases than ever before. Vaccines have been instrumental in reducing and, in some cases, eliminating diseases that once caused significant morbidity and mortality.

"Vaccinating your children protects them and helps safeguard others in the community, particularly those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions," says Dr. Shane Colvin, a pediatric care provider at DCMC.

Vaccines undergo rigorous testing and review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals to ensure their safety and efficacy. Dr. Colvin emphasizes, "Children who don't receive recommended vaccines are at risk of getting the disease or illness and of having a severe case." Vaccine side effects are generally minor and temporary, such as a sore arm or mild fever, while the benefits are substantial, protecting against serious diseases.

What Vaccines Protect Against

Here are some of the most common immunizations for children. This is not an exhaustive list, but it illustrates the broad range of vaccines recommended throughout early childhood and adolescence.

• Hepatitis B (HepB): Protects against the hepatitis B virus, which can cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer.

• Rotavirus (RV): Guards against rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhea and dehydration in infants and young children.

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP): Protects against diphtheria, which can cause breathing problems, paralysis, and heart failure; tetanus, which causes painful muscle stiffness; and pertussis (whooping cough), which can cause severe coughing spells and breathing difficulties.

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Prevents infections caused by Hib, including meningitis and pneumonia.

• Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV13): Protects against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.

• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV): Protects against polio, which can cause paralysis.

• Influenza: Annual vaccine to protect against seasonal flu, which can lead to severe respiratory illness.

• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): This vaccine protects against measles, which can cause pneumonia and encephalitis; mumps, which can lead to meningitis and hearing loss; and rubella, which can cause birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected.

• Varicella (Chickenpox): Protects against chickenpox, which can cause severe skin infections, pneumonia, and brain inflammation.

• Hepatitis A (HepA): Prevents hepatitis A, a liver disease.

• Meningococcal: Protects against meningococcal disease, which can cause meningitis and sepsis.

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Protects against HPV, which can cause cervical, anal, and other cancers.

• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Protects against RSV, which can cause severe respiratory illness in young children and infants.

It's important to note that children need different immunizations as they grow. The CDC provides a detailed immunization schedule to help parents keep track of the recommended vaccines for various age groups.

Vaccine Myths Debunked

Vaccines have been proven to be one of the most effective public health measures in history. Despite this, several myths and misconceptions about vaccines persist, which is particularly dangerous for children, who rely on adults to ensure they are receiving recommended immunizations.

Myth 1: Vaccines Cause Autism

Debunked: The belief that vaccines, particularly the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, cause autism originated from a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield. This study has been discredited due to serious procedural errors, undisclosed financial conflicts of interest, and ethical violations. Numerous studies involving millions of children have found no link between vaccines and autism. The original study was retracted by the journal that published it, and Wakefield lost his medical license due to his fraudulent claims.

Myth 2: Infant Immune Systems Can't Handle So Many Vaccines

Debunked: Infants' immune systems are robust. From birth, babies are exposed to countless antigens in their environment. The combined antigenic load from the recommended vaccine schedule is only a fraction of what a baby's immune system handles daily. Studies have shown that the current vaccine schedule is safe and does not overload the immune system.

Myth 3: Vaccines Contain Unsafe Toxins

Debunked: Vaccines contain ingredients necessary for their efficacy and safety, including preservatives, adjuvants, and stabilizers. The amounts of these substances in vaccines are tiny and are rigorously tested to ensure safety. For example, thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, has been removed from or reduced to trace amounts in all childhood vaccines, except some flu vaccines. Extensive research has shown that the low levels of thimerosal in vaccines do not cause harm.

Myth 4: Vaccines Aren't Necessary Because Infection Rates Are So Low

Debunked: The low rates of infectious diseases in many parts of the world directly result from widespread vaccination. If vaccination rates drop, these diseases can and do return. For example, measles outbreaks have occurred in areas with low vaccination rates. Continued immunization is crucial to maintain herd immunity and prevent the resurgence of these diseases.

Myth 5: Natural Immunity Is Better Than Vaccine-Acquired Immunity

Debunked: While natural infection often provides strong immunity, it comes with significant risks. Natural infections can cause severe complications and even death. Vaccines offer a safe way to develop immunity without the risks associated with the diseases they prevent. For example, natural infection with measles can cause encephalitis and death, whereas the measles vaccine provides immunity without these risks.

Myth 6: Vaccines Can Cause the Diseases They Are Meant to Prevent

Debunked: Vaccines use killed (inactivated) or weakened (attenuated) forms of pathogens, or parts of pathogens, to stimulate the immune response. These components cannot cause the disease. For example, the flu shot contains inactivated virus, which cannot cause the flu. Some vaccines may cause mild symptoms that mimic the disease (like a fever), but these are not the disease itself and are usually signs that the body is building protection.

Credible sources and scientific evidence are essential when deciding on immunization. For more detailed information on vaccine safety and the benefits of vaccination, visit the CDC's vaccine information page or see suggested readings and sources below.

Vaccinating your children is one of the most effective ways to protect their health and the community's health. Ensure your child is up-to-date with their vaccinations. For more information on the VFC program or to schedule an immunization, contact the Children's Center of Door County Medical Center at 920-743-5566.

Sources & Suggested Reading:

1. CDC: Autism and Vaccines
2. World Health Organization: MMR Vaccine and Autism
3. CDC: Vaccine Safety
4. American Academy of Pediatrics: Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence
5. FDA: Thimerosal in Vaccines
6. CDC: Ingredients in Vaccines
7. CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks
8. WHO: Global Vaccine Action Plan
9. NIH: Vaccine Myths
10. CDC: Flu Vaccine Safety
11. Mayo Clinic: Flu Shot: Your Questions Answered