Similar to any other topic of hot debate, if you ask someone about their thoughts on immunizations, you’re likely hear a strong opinion. And from information being published online, and also the questions and comments we hear about vaccinations in Fountain Hills from our patients and their families, we know that there is a lot of misinformation circulating about the topic. In acknowledgement of National Immunization Awareness Month, we want to address some of the most common questions we receive about immunizations to ensure you are equipped with accurate information.
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Are vaccines really necessary?
For children and adults, vaccinations are an integral part of living a healthy life. By triggering the immune system to identify and fight specific bacteria, vaccines teach your body to how to protect you from diseases without getting the actual diseases. And while many vaccines are given to children, immunization is important for adults for diseases including shingles, influenza, pneumococcal disease. Additionally, there are some vaccines important for pregnant women to ensure a healthy delivery and child.
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Why not let my body fight diseases naturally?
In many cases, the disease can put you at a much higher risk for serious complications than the risk carried by the vaccine. Serious side effects from some of the diseases preventable by common vaccinations include brain damage, birth defects, heart complications, liver cancer, pneumonia, seizures, paralysis, and more. Vaccines offer a safer path to immunization without the risk of serious complications.
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Don’t vaccines contain poisons?
Vaccines do contain small amounts of additives that cause worry for some, but the amounts involved with immunizations are safe, trace amounts. In fact, the ingredients in vaccines are only dangerous in much higher doses. One vaccine preservative, thimerosal, seems to be especially worrisome to many people. However, in 1999 Public Health Service agencies and the American Academy of Pediatrics agreed that this ingredient should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines. Also of note: there has been no evidence of harm caused by thimerosal in vaccines.
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Should I space out my kid’s vaccines to make them safer?
The ingredients in vaccines, even multiple vaccines at once, represent only a small fraction of the pathogens our immune system encounters on a daily basis. Vaccines are recommended at times that children (and adults!) are most vulnerable to the disease. Studies have shown that delaying vaccines in order to avoid receiving multiple at a time only prolong a period of disease susceptibility.
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Will I get the disease I’m being immunized for?
We get this question often when administering flu shots at Fountain Hills Medical Center. The short answer: the flu vaccine will not give you the flu; and this is true for other vaccines as well. Vaccines contain a small part, or a very weakened version, of the disease. It’s enough to cause your body to develop antigens against it, but not to cause you to develop the disease. While you may experience side effects from some vaccines as your body fights the bacteria, it’s not because the immunization process is causing you to get the disease.
For vaccines in Fountain Hills, your medical team at Fountain Hills Medical Center can ensure you are up to date with all immunizations needed for the best possible health for you, your family, and your community. We know that you may have questions, and concerns, and welcome a discussion with you. Not only are we committed to providing the best medical care, but also to providing only what’s necessary. We’ll never try to oversell you on unneeded vaccines or other medical treatments.
