As much as you might want to, you can’t protect your kids from everything. But there is one place where you have control: Immunizations.
Maryland, along with many other states, requires that school-age children receive specific vaccines. These vaccines prevent highly contagious, and sometimes deadly, diseases from occurring and spreading. Due to the seriousness of this threat, many schools require proof of current vaccinations before the school year starts.
There’s a lot to know about immunizations. Here are the answers to some of your most common questions.
Q. How do vaccines work?
Vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight bacteria and viruses before an infection happens. When a person is exposed to a disease-causing germ, the immune system mounts a defense, producing substances known as antibodies to fight it.
The immune system has a memory, so the next time the immunized person comes in contact with that germ, his or her immune system recognizes it and the antibodies work to fight it. Over time, the protection provided from some vaccines may begin to wear off and an additional dose is needed.
Q. Can my child actually get a disease from the vaccine?
No. With inactivated vaccines (those that don’t contain a live sample), it isn’t possible. A dead virus or bacteria can’t cause disease. When a vaccine contains a live yet weakened sample of the disease, some children might get what appears to be a mild case of the disease.
For example, what looks like measles or chickenpox rash but only a few spots. This isn’t harmful and shows that the vaccine is doing its job.
Q. Why are vaccines required?
Outbreaks of preventable diseases still happen. In recent years, outbreaks have grown.
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate as one of the top ten threats to global health. Some nations like the U.S., who have almost completely eliminated some diseases, have seen a recent resurgence in infectious diseases.
For example, measles has seen a 30% increase in global cases — with 1,077 cases reported in the U.S. as of July 2019. This is the most cases recorded since the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
Immunizations work best when entire communities receive them. When immunizations reach a critical mass, “herd immunity” can help protect the entire community from contagious diseases, including your children. This phenomenon has been demonstrated with the new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, as well as influenza, measles, mumps, rotavirus, and pneumococcal vaccines.
Q. Why vaccinate against diseases that only occur in other countries?
We live in a globalized world. Diseases that are largely eliminated in the U.S. can be contracted by people who enter the country. Goods that cross borders every day may carry infectious disease as well. It’s important to be protected.
Q. Does the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine cause autism?
Vaccines do not cause autism. This claim stems from a study that linked autism to the MMR vaccine, but when an independent panel looked into the study, they discovered that it was flawed. This resulted in the study being retracted.
Q. Is administering multiple vaccines hard on a child’s immune system?
A baby’s immune system can handle considerably more germs than they get from vaccines. Babies are exposed to germs by the thousands every day from the moment they are born.
Q. Are vaccine ingredients toxic?
Some vaccine ingredients could be toxic at higher levels, but only trace amounts of these ingredients are found in vaccines. This concerns some parents, but any substance—even water— can be toxic at a large enough dose. At a very low dose, even an otherwise toxic substance can be safe.
Q. Do teenagers need to be vaccinated?
Yes. Some vaccines teens received as a child will wear off as they age. Additional doses (sometimes called boosters) may be needed to provide your teen with long-term protection. Teens are also generally at greater risk for contracting certain diseases.
Q. Who should be vaccinated for HPV?
HPV vaccination is important. At least 50% of sexually active people will get HPV at some point in their lives and many of them won’t even know it.
The CDC recommends that everyone receives their three-shot series starting at age nine to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. Boys and young men should also be vaccinated. Learn more about the HPV vaccine.
