Some individuals are concerned about vaccine safety, but vaccines can save lives and prevent the spread of disease. Failing to vaccinate your child can put them at risk of contracting a dangerous and even deadly disease. Getting vaccinated is better than trying to treat a disease. Many of the worst childhood diseases have been eliminated thanks to vaccination.

Purpose of Vaccines for Children

Unfortunately, many people rely on information from the internet, media, and other sources to learn about the purpose of vaccines. Vaccines protect children against deadly diseases such as measles, polio, rubella, meningitis, mumps, chickenpox, pneumonia, and tetanus.

Vaccination can also protect your child from hepatitis A and B, diarrheal infections, influenza, and reproductive cancers, among other diseases. Your pediatrician can provide all the facts needed to protect your child’s health and safety.

Effectiveness of Vaccines

Most available vaccines are effective and have helped to save millions of lives over the years. Childhood vaccines are 90% to 99% effective in preventing severe diseases. If a vaccinated child gets a disease, the symptoms are less severe than in a child who is not vaccinated.

Some children experience mild side effects after the vaccination, such as swelling on the site of the shot. The effects do not last long, and severe complications or side effects are rare.

Safety of Vaccines for Children

Before being declared safe for use, vaccines must be reviewed by health experts. They go through clinical trials before approval for use in children. They look at various factors, including safety, effectiveness, and side effects.

The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee include experts who advise the FDA on whether or not to approve a vaccine. Vaccine licenses are only given if the product is deemed safe, effective, and beneficial. The experts weigh the benefits against the risks.

Boosting Natural Immunity

Vaccines help to boost natural immunity. When babies are born, they have an immune system that can fight most germs. Breastfeeding helps to add to immunity, protecting against minor ailments such as colds.

However, the protection does not last long, and vaccines can teach the immune system to respond to infections for life. Sometimes, the immune system fails to get rid of the infection, which is where booster shots come in. They “remind” the immune system how to respond to infections.

Vaccination Is Necessary

Pediatricians recommend that children receive all the necessary childhood vaccines. It is necessary to know that diseases that have been eradicated in the country can still find their way back.

People regularly come from countries where vaccines are not readily available. Or even where there are current disease outbreaks. Ensuring that your child is vaccinated will help not just your child but others in the community. When enough children are vaccinated, it can prevent the spread of diseases. Herd immunity is vital for those who may be immunocompromised.

A drop in vaccination rates can lead to a return of vaccine-preventable infections. The recent past has seen outbreaks of diseases that had been eliminated. It is more cost-effective to vaccinate children than to treat diseases.

For more on the purpose and effectiveness of vaccines for children, visit Advanced Pediatrics PC. Our offices are in Elmhurst or Jackson Heights, New York. Call (718) 271-2600 to schedule an appointment today.