Few topics are more polarizing than vaccines. This remains true even as science gives us clear answers about the importance of immunization in both personal and public health.
At Hubbard Pediatric Group, LLC, we believe that we have an obligation to share science-based pediatric health information to the Loganville, Georgia, community. And when it comes to children’s health, few issues are more important than immunization.
So let’s shed some light on some common myths surrounding immunization and vaccines.
The term “immunization” refers to the process by which the human body becomes capable of effectively fighting off a specific disease. Vaccines are biological treatments that prompt your body to create an immune response.
Quite often, the terms “immunization,” “vaccine,” and “vaccination” are used interchangeably to refer to the process of achieving immunization through individual vaccines. Childhood shots are usually the central focus when discussing vaccines, but there are also many essential vaccines for adults.
A great deal of misinformation circulates online and in person regarding immunization. So let’s shed some light on some of the more common myths and truths regarding this important health issue.
This falsehood stems from a single study published in a medical journal some time ago. Since that time, hundreds of studies have shown the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccines. The study that prompted this myth has since been removed from the original publication.
The science is clear on this one: There is no link between vaccines and autism. Some of the world’s leading medical experts shape vaccine policy and determine which vaccines are necessary for kids at various stages throughout childhood.
When your body is exposed to a potentially dangerous substance called an antigen, it creates a quick immune response, building up antibodies and other tools to fight off an infection. Once this process occurs, those tools remain in your system for the rest of your life, ready to spring into action if you’re ever exposed to that specific antigen in the future.
This natural process is wonderful. Certain diseases, however, can overwhelm a child’s body long before the natural immune response occurs. Vaccines address this problem by providing a “training run” for your child’s system. They expose your child to a tiny amount of the antigen to create the ability to fight off a potential full-strength exposure in the future.
Well, American kids indeed enjoy much better protection against infectious disease than kids in certain other parts of the world. But this myth about immunization is ironically based on the fact that vaccines are the very reason why we enjoy those protections.
So many Americans are vaccinated against diseases like polio, measles, and rubella that we don’t see widespread breakouts of these diseases any longer. This is called “herd immunity,” and it works when such a high percentage of a community is vaccinated against a particular disease that the disease cannot take hold and spread. So it’s an odd argument to claim that we should stop acting because its results are so positive.
If you’re still unsure what the right move to make is regarding your child’s immunization, we completely understand. We welcome you to express any questions or concerns you have. Our goal is to help parents make the best health decisions for their kids, including childhood vaccines.
You can set up a visit with Hubbard Pediatric Group using our simple online booking tool. We also welcome phone calls to check appointment availability.
