Learning About Vaccines for Children

Overview

You may feel confused about vaccines for your child. Does your child need them? Are they safe? You're not alone. There's so much information and it isn't always clear. It can be hard to know what's best for your child.

Most vaccines are given as shots. They are sometimes called vaccinations or immunizations.

Should your child get vaccinated?

Vaccinations help save lives. They are the best way to help protect your child from getting certain diseases that are spread from person to person (infectious diseases). They also help reduce the spread of a disease to prevent a sudden outbreak of the disease, which is called an epidemic.

What if your child is not vaccinated?

If your child isn't vaccinated, then your child is at risk to get some serious infectious diseases. Pertussis (whooping cough), measles, and chickenpox are all diseases that still exist today. They can still cause serious illness or death.

Also, your child may spread disease to others who are not able to be immunized. Preventing the spread of disease is very important for people with weak immune systems. These people may not be able to get vaccines, or vaccines don't work well for them. Their only protection is for others to get vaccinated so that infectious diseases are less common.

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are studied for safety on an ongoing basis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carefully checks all vaccines for safety. Other government agencies watch for reports of rare or unexpected reactions. Sometimes the area where the shot was given may be sore. And some children may be fussy. Or they may get a mild fever. Serious side effects are very rare. The greater risk lies in getting the illness.

Do vaccines cause autism?

Vaccines do not cause autism. False claims in the news have made some parents concerned about a link between autism and vaccines. But studies have found no evidence that they cause autism.

Aren't most childhood diseases less common now?

Vaccinations in the United States have led to a sharp decrease in certain diseases that are spread from person to person (infectious diseases). Better living conditions have also helped reduce the spread of disease.

A vaccine protects your child from the disease. A vaccine doesn't get rid of the disease. The disease still exists. And if fewer children get vaccinated for a disease, the disease could spread again.