Health tips
Childhood Vaccination: Questions and Answers
For several years now, the issue of childhood vaccination has stirred up controversy among the general public. Are vaccines essential or not? Are they safe or dangerous? Read this article for the answers to the most common questions about immunization.
Why should I have my child vaccinated?
Children are born with natural immunity that protects them from certain diseases, but this immunity gradually fades during the first year of life. When children are vaccinated, they receive long-lasting protection against many serious, even life-threatening, illnesses.
Is vaccination mandatory?
No. Vaccination is done on a voluntary basis. You decide whether or not you wish to have your child vaccinated.
Are vaccines safe?
Yes. The vaccines available today are safe. Only in rare cases do they lead to serious reactions. Remember that complications from vaccine-preventable diseases are much more dangerous to your child’s health than the vaccine itself.
Do vaccines work?
Yes! Thanks to vaccination, many diseases, such as diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox and certain types of meningitis, are much less common nowadays. That being said, they can pose a health risk for children who have not been vaccinated.
Can the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine cause autism?
This hypothesis was formulated over ten years ago and is still with us today. According to many serious studies, no vaccine, including this one, causes autism. There is no cause for concern.
Can giving children several vaccines at once overload their immune system?
No. Every day, our body comes into contact with millions of germs and our immune system is constantly fighting to protect us from them. Your child’s immune system has no problem assimilating the small number of antigens (attenuated or dead viruses and bacteria) found in vaccines.
In addition, the number of antigens in vaccines has been considerably reduced over time. For example, the series of vaccines recommended at 2 months of age contains only 34 antigens now, compared to several thousand before.
Why must my child receive boosters (additional doses) of the same vaccine?
Children must receive several doses of the same vaccine so that their systems can manufacture antibodies to fight the disease if they catch it. That is why you should follow the immunization schedule as carefully as possible.
What are the most common adverse reactions to vaccines?
Your child may develop a mild fever or other minor reactions, such as redness, sensitivity and swelling at the injection site. These symptoms are not dangerous and will generally disappear on their own in a few days.
What should I do if my child develops a fever after a vaccine?
Approximately 15 to 20 percent of children will get a fever after being vaccinated. In such cases, acetaminophen for children (e.g. Tempra, Tylenol) is recommended. If the fever lasts more than 48 hours, however, see a doctor.
The MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccine given at 12 and 18 months may cause a fever that can last 5 to 12 days after the injection.
Good to know!
Never give acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) to children under 12 years of age since it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially deadly disease.
Pharmacy services
Do you have more questions about vaccines? Talk to your pharmacist! He is a valuable source of information.
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