Vaccination Myths and Preventive Services to Keep Kids Healthy

In today’s world, there is a huge amount of information flying around. Some of them may be wrong — even in the medical world. It’s no different than a vaccine, and the chatter can cause unnecessary worry for parents. It’s time to set the record straight.

Let’s start by dispelling three myths about childhood vaccines:

Myth: Vaccines cause autism.

fact: This myth started a few years ago when a study suggested a link between the two. The study was later retracted. Autism does tend to co-occur with certain vaccines, including measles, mumps and rubella, but the timing is purely coincidental.

Myth: If your child isn’t vaccinated as a baby, the vaccine won’t work later.

fact: Children who miss their first shot at two months can start again later, experts say. Or, if your child has received some but not all recommended vaccines, he or she can catch up without having to start over. If you are concerned, please call your doctor or health department.

Myth: So-called “combination” vaccines are not as effective as single-dose vaccines.

fact: The combination vaccine was just as effective as the single-dose vaccine without the greater risk of side effects, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two common childhood combination vaccines are DTaP For diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (pertussis), and Measles Mortality For measles, mumps and rubella.

If you’re hesitant about getting your child vaccinated, remember that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Childhood vaccines can:

Keep your kids healthy. They are safe and effective for common ailments.
Save you time and money. It is much easier to prevent disease than to treat it.
Protect the community. Many preventable diseases are transmitted from person to person.