Top 5 Vaccine Myths and Facts: What You Should Know

Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious diseases like the flu, measles and pneumonia. That’s why North Oaks Health System is committed to sharing the truth about vaccines and why they’re so important to our community.

We are setting the record straight on some common vaccine myths and facts so you can make informed choices that keep yourself and your family healthy.

Myth #1: Vaccines cause autism and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Truth: Vaccines do not cause autism or SIDS.

Many parents worry about the safety of vaccines, especially when they hear myths linking them to autism or SIDS. However, decades of research have shown that vaccines do not cause these conditions.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains that vaccines are carefully tested for safety before being approved, and large studies have observed millions of children worldwide. These studies clearly show that vaccines do not cause autism.

The idea of a connection started with a single small study in the 1990s. Since then, it has been proven false and retracted because it was not done properly.

Vaccines also do not increase the risk of SIDS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that babies often receive vaccines between 2 and 4 months old, which is around the same age SIDS is most likely to occur. Some people feel there is a link between the two because of this timing.

However, many large studies show no connection between childhood vaccines and SIDS. In fact, recent research suggests vaccines may help protect against SIDS by strengthening the baby’s immune system.

Myth #2: There are dangerous ingredients in vaccines.

Truth: Vaccines are made with very small, safe amounts of chemicals that help them work and stay stable.

Every ingredient in a vaccine has a purpose, like training the immune system, keeping the vaccine effective during storage or preventing contamination. These ingredients are present in tiny amounts, far below levels that could cause any harm to patients.

For example, aluminum salts are sometimes used in vaccines to help the body build a stronger immune response. Aluminum is also found naturally in water, breast milk and foods like soy. The amount present in modern vaccines is much less than what even babies eat each day in breast milk or formula.

Formaldehyde is another common vaccine ingredient that causes concern. While it may sound scary, the tiny amount left in some vaccines is much lower than what is naturally made by our own bodies or from foods like apples and pears.

Vaccines are carefully tested in clinical trials before approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and continuously monitored for safety once they are in use. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines are among the most closely studied medical products in the world, and decades of research show they are safe and protect against serious illness.

Myth #3: Getting sick is better than getting a vaccine.

Truth: Vaccines protect you from dangerous diseases much more safely than getting sick from the disease itself.

Getting sick can cause serious health problems, long-term damage or even death. Vaccines protect you and your loved ones without the dangerous risks of the actual illness.

For example, the measles can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, or death in some children, but the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine safely prevents these outcomes.

Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective tools in medicine. They provide strong protection by training your body to fight off illness without the danger of experiencing the actual disease itself.

Myth #4: Too many vaccines can hurt your immune system.

Truth: Vaccines do not weaken the immune system. Instead, they safely train your immune system to fight off dangerous diseases without overloading it.

The immune system is designed to handle thousands of germs every day, from the air we breathe to the food we eat and the surfaces we touch. The CDC shows that the number of antigens — the parts of germs that trigger protection — in modern vaccines is much lower than in the past, even though vaccines now protect against more diseases.

In particular, children’s immune systems are strong enough to respond to many vaccines at once, using only a small fraction of the immune system’s capacity. Careful testing shows that getting multiple vaccines at once is safe, and this practice helps protect children as early as possible from serious diseases.

Vaccines work to strengthen the immune system by teaching your body how to fight off dangerous infections before they can cause harm. Spacing out or delaying vaccines does not make them safer. In fact, it only leaves children unprotected for longer.

The safest and most effective choice is to follow the vaccine schedule for all ages recommended by the AAP, the CDC, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Myth #5: Healthy people don’t need vaccines.

Truth: Even healthy people need vaccines because they can still get sick and spread diseases to others.

It’s always safer and easier to stop a disease with prevention than to treat it after you get sick. Vaccines protect healthy people from getting sick in the first place.

Vaccines also help protect others around you. Some people, such as newborns, senior adults or those with weak immune systems or health conditions, cannot receive certain vaccines. If a healthy person gets sick because they aren’t vaccinated, they could spread the disease to any of these vulnerable people.

Vaccination helps create “community immunity” or “herd immunity,” lowering the chance of an outbreak and protecting everyone in the community. Healthy people who get vaccinated play a key role in preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Why Vaccines Matter

Vaccines save lives, protect families and keep entire communities healthier. Myths about vaccines can cause fear and confusion, but the truth is clear. Vaccines are safe, carefully tested, and one of the most effective tools we have to prevent disease.

By choosing vaccination, you are not only protecting yourself from getting very sick – you are also helping protect babies, older adults, and others in your community who may be more vulnerable.

North Oaks Health System encourages everyone to learn the facts, talk to trusted healthcare providers and stay up to date on all recommended vaccines. Together, we are preventing the spread of contagious illnesses in our community and building a healthier future for everyone.

If you’re not sure whether you’re up to date on your vaccines, or if you have questions, talk to your North Oaks primary care provider (PCP). They can help you understand what vaccines you or your family members need and answer any concerns you might have.

Call (985) 230-2778 [APPT] or log into your North Oaks MyChart to make an appointment today.

Don’t have a North Oaks provider? Find one here.

What is a primary care provider and why do you need one? Read more here.