Vaccines – myths and truths

Vaccines protect a person from a specific illness or disease when taken in the right dosage and at the recommended age. While vaccination brings a big fear in some people, for others it’s just one of those things that needs to be done. We’ve put together some common myths and truths about vaccines and hope to shed some light on this topic.

Myth 1: All vaccines cause fever

Truth 1: Most vaccines nowadays do not cause fever. Only a few vaccines like DPT (whole sell type), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and chicken pox (varicella) cause fever. Sometimes, there may be mild rashes associated with the fever and the fever may appear after a week, not immediately.

Myth 2: Being vaccinated means you will never get that disease

Truth 2: If you are vaccinated against a particular disease, chances are you will not get it. However, if you come into close contact with someone having the disease, you may get a mild version of the disease. For e.g. children vaccinated against chicken pox may get chicken pox, but the blisters will be fewer, days of fever will be fewer and recovery will be faster when compared to those who have not been vaccinated. Also serious complications like skin infection or meningitis will not arise. Thirdly, if the person’s immunity is low for e.g. elderly people and infants or sick children may contract the disease if exposed to it.

Myth 3: Flu vaccine ensures complete protection from the flu

Truth 3: Influenza has many strains of the bacteria causing it and the flu vaccine is area specific. So if you are residing in a place and get a flu vaccine, it will protect you against the strains found in that particular area. However, if you are traveling, your flu vaccine will be ineffective as you may be exposed to different strains of the flu which you are not protected against. Also, the flu vaccine protects from complications like meningitis that may be fatal.

Myth 4: Vaccines are 100 % effective

Truth 4: If the vaccine is not stored at the recommended temperature (for e.g. polio vaccine requires storage in the refrigerator to maintain the cold chain) or if it is handled inappropriately by the health workers administering it or the dosage given is incorrect, the vaccine will not be effective. Another reason is that depending on your genetic make-up your body may not be receptive to the vaccine, hence it may not work for you like it does for the rest of the population.

Myth 5: All available vaccines should be given

Truth 5: All the vaccines listed in the National Immunisation Schedule should be given. They include BCG, OPV, DPT, measles, hepatitis B and TT. Some vaccines like pneumococcal vaccine and that for rotavirus are optional. Depending on cost factor and risk of acquiring it in that region, an informed decision must be taken by the parents or the family doctor or paediatrician should be consulted.

Myth 6: Expensive vaccines are better

Truth 6: In most cases, both the cheaper vaccine and its costly counterpart are equally effective.  Indigenously manufactured vaccines are as good as the imported vaccines. Depending on availability and affordability, parents can take a decision.

Myth 7: Giving vaccines are risky

Truth 7: It is much more risky to withhold giving a vaccine than to give it. Vaccines themselves are not usually risky but some children may be allergic to the preservatives mixed in the vaccine. However, this figure is very small and almost negligible. Children with a history of anaphylactic reactions or severe allergy during past vaccinations should not receive the vaccine.

Myth 8: Vaccination benefits only the individual

Truth 8: Vaccination benefits the entire community. The more people that are vaccinated in a community, the more benefit even to the unvaccinated individuals in that community. Hence the protective effect of vaccines encompasses the community as a whole.

Myth 9: Vaccines are linked to medical problems like autism

Truth 9: Studies have not found an association with vaccines like MMR or thiomersol (a preservative used in vaccines especially in developing countries) and autism or any related disorders. So this allegation is baseless and should not be taken into consideration.

Myth 10: Vaccines can be given at any time

Truth 10: Vaccination should be postponed if the child is ill or unwell till he is better. Also, vaccines should be given in the recommended time period, if delayed the child may acquire the illness before the vaccine is given.

(By Mdhil , yahoo.com)