Q:Will an immunization give my child the very disease the vaccine
is supposed to prevent? A: This is by far parents’ greatest
fear about vaccines. It is impossible to get the disease from any
vaccine made with dead or killed bacteria or viruses. Only those
made from a weakened live virus–like chicken pox (varicella)
or oral polio vaccines–could make a child develop a form of
the disease, and that risk is extremely small.
Q:Will my child have any serious reactions to vaccines? A: The most common reactions to vaccines
are minor. They include redness, swelling, fever and rash. Although
in rare cases immunizations can trigger seizures or severe allergic
reactions, the risk of these is much lower than that of catching
the disease if a child is not immunized.
Q:How long does immunity last? A: A few vaccines, like the one for
measles, may make you immune for your entire life. Others, like
tetanus, last for many years but require periodic shots (boosters)
to maintain immunity. And some, like the one for whooping cough,
wear off but do not require boosters because the disease is not
as dangerous among adolescents and adults. It is important to keep
a record of your child’s shots so you will know when he or
she is due for a booster.
Q:Do I still need to immunize my child if all the other children
in school are immunized? A: If one person thinks about skipping
vaccines, other people are probably thinking the same thing. Each
child who is not immunized gives these highly contagious diseases
one more chance to spread.
