Why immunize?
Tens of thousands of Americans get sick
from diseases that we can prevent with vaccines. These patients can suffer from
significant pain, hospitalizations, and even death.
https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/VaccinesProtect.jpg
Why immunize if I am
healthy?
Some people (and many young adults) may believe that since
they are healthy, there is no need for vaccines. In fact, this is a very important
time to get your vaccines, plus the protection from childhood
vaccines can wear off over time.
http://www.whallc.com/images/default-source/default-album/the-hpv-vaccine-can-prevent-more-than-93-of-cervical-infections-and-cancers-if-you-get-it-early-enough.jpg?sfvrsn=0
In herd immunity, if a majority of a community is immunized,
most people are protected in an outbreak because those immunized create
a “barrier.” Therefore, we have so much influence in PREVENTING
the spread of a disease.
On a mini scale,
using the same concept of barriers, this is important to our families if a baby is infected with chicken pox, and
the mom becomes infected and spreads it to the grandmother (both of whom are
not immunized and never got chicken pox when younger). However, if the mother
was immunized, both the mom and grandmother would be protected.
You may be at higher
risk if you travel, work certain jobs or other health conditions
(ex. diabetes, heart disease, and asthma). Take the quiz here (https://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched)
to see if you which vaccines you need!
Can
I get infected by a vaccine? Does it depend on the type of vaccine?
The FDA closely monitors the
safety of vaccines based on years of past research and use in people, and data
shows the current
vaccine stock is the safest in history.
There
are many types of vaccines:
a. Live
attenuated (ex. measles, influenza, shingles) - a weak form of a virus. It
replicates for our immune systems to recognize and protect against future
infections, but it does not multiply enough to cause disease. There
is a rare chance these could change to a form that can cause disease, but this
change is very small. This vaccine offers the longest protection
b. Kills
or inactive (ex. Polio) - pathogens inactivated by heat or chemicals. The pathogen
cannot multiply but is intact for our body to recognize it
c. Toxoid
(ex. Tetanus) – some disease are caused by a bacteria toxin rather than the
bacteria itself. These include inactivated toxins
d.
Subunit and conjugate (ex. Hepatitis B,
HPV) – these use pieces of pathogens, which cannot cause disease by
themselves
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/tools/parents-guide/downloads/parents-guide-part3.pdf
Do vaccines cause autism?
Some people have been concerned that vaccines cause Autism
Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but based on extensive research in the last few
years, there is no link between vaccines and ASD. A 2011 Institute of Medicine report and a 2013
CDC study added to this safe conclusion.
One ingredient, thimerosal, was studied thoroughly. Since
2003, several research studies have found no links between this ingredient and
ASD.
To end, a short example from history:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/tools/parents-guide/downloads/parents-guide-part3.pdf
Resources:
Download a free phone app for
your immunizations: http://www.immunizationed.org
For travelers: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list
Find a clinic now: http://vaccine.healthmap.org/
Institute of Medicine report investigating vaccines and ASD:
http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Adverse-Effects-of-Vaccines-Evidence-and-Causality.aspx
CDC study on vaccines
and ASD: http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(13)00144-3/pdf?ext=.pdf
References:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/index.html
http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/different-types-vaccines
https://www.nphic.org/niam
http://www.vaccines.gov/basics/protection/
DeStefano,
Frank. "Vaccines and autism: evidence does not support a causal
association." Clinical
Pharmacology & Therapeutics 82.6
(2007): 756-759.
Plotkin,
Stanley, Jeffrey S. Gerber, and Paul A. Offit. "Vaccines and autism: a
tale of shifting hypotheses." Clinical
Infectious Diseases 48.4
(2009): 456-461.
Written by: Tina Hu
Drexel University College of Medicine
August 2016
