Vaccination Safe and Important
Vaccination Safe and Important
Vaccination Safe and Important
Vaccines are the most efficient strategy to protect yourself against infectious diseases. The purpose of this website is to describe how vaccinations work, what they contain, and the most prevalent side effects.
Keep an eye out for anti-vaccine stories. Anti-vaccine stories are frequently shared on social media. They could put your child in danger of serious sickness if they aren’t founded on scientific facts.
Things that make Vaccination Safe and Important
Vaccines Do :
- Protect. You and your child will be protected from a variety of serious and potentially fatal infections.
- Protect. Others in your community – by assisting in the prevention of diseases spreading to persons who are unable to receive vaccines
- Go through extensive safety testing before being released, and they’re regularly checked for negative effects once they’ve been released.
- Cause mild side effects. Some youngsters may feel a little nauseous and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days as a result of the medication.
- Reduce diseases. Some diseases can be reduced or even eliminated if enough individuals are immunised.
Vaccines Don’t :
- Do not cause autism. There is no indication of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, according to research.
- Do not overload or weaken the immune system. It is safe to give children many immunizations at once, which decreases the number of doses they require.
- Do not cause allergies or any other conditions. Vaccination is safer than not vaccinating, according to all available evidence.
- Do not contain mercury. (thiomersal).
- Do not contain any ingredients that cause harm. However, if you have any known allergies, such as to eggs or gelatine, consult your doctor.
Why vaccines are Vaccination Safe and Important
The most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children from illness is to be vaccinated. Every year, they save the lives of up to 3 million people around the world.
Diseases like smallpox, polio, and tetanus, which used to kill or impair millions of people, have all but vanished in the UK since immunizations were introduced.
Other illnesses, such as measles and diphtheria, have seen a 99.9% reduction in cases since immunizations were introduced.
However, if people stop getting immunizations, infectious diseases could spread again swiftly.
Vaccine hesitancy is one of the most serious dangers to world health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Vaccine reluctance occurs when people who have access to vaccines postpone or refuse to get vaccinated.
Measles and mumps in England
Even though the MMR vaccine is safe and protects against both diseases, measles and mumps are resurfacing in England.
In recent years, cases of measles and mumps have virtually doubled:
Year |
Measles |
Mumps |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 530 | 573 |
| 2018 | 970 | 1061 |
Measles can induce life-threatening complications like meningitis, and mumps can cause hearing loss, so this is a serious situation.
Important – Measles can be eradicated if 95% of children take the MMR vaccine. However, if fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated, measles, mumps, and rubella can quickly spread anew.
How vaccines work
Vaccines instruct your immune system on how to produce antibodies that protect you against diseases.
Learning this through vaccination is significantly safer for your immune system than contracting and treating infections.
Your immune system can often defend you for many years once it has learned how to combat a disease.
Herd immunity
Through “herd immunity,” having a vaccine benefits your entire community.
When a large number of people are vaccinated, the disease is less likely to spread to those who cannot receive immunizations. People who are ill or have a weaker immune system, for example.
Why vaccines are safe
All vaccines have undergone extensive testing to ensure that they will not damage you or your kid.
A vaccine’s journey through the trials and tests required for approval can take several years.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency monitors vaccines after they are used in the UK for any uncommon negative effects (MHRA).
The Yellow Card Scheme allows anyone to report a suspected side effect of vaccination to the MHRA.
Who cannot have vaccines
There are only a few people who are immune to immunizations.
Vaccines are not recommended for the following conditions:
- Those who had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine (anaphylaxis).
- Those who have had a severe adverse reaction to the vaccine’s ingredients
Some vaccines are also inaccessible to people with weaker immune systems (for example, as a result of cancer therapy or a medical condition).
Consult a GP, practice nurse, health visitor, or pharmacist if you’re not sure if you or your kid can be vaccinated.
Side effects of vaccination
The majority of vaccine side effects are minor and do not stay long.
The following are the most prevalent vaccine adverse effects:
- For 2 to 3 days, the area where the needle is inserted appears red, bloated, and a little uncomfortable.
- For 1 or 2 days, newborns or young children may feel sick or develop a high temperature.
Immediately after the injection, some youngsters may cry and be agitated. This is normal, and a snuggle should help them feel better.
Allergic reactions
A significant allergic reaction to a vaccine is quite rare. If this happens, it usually happens in a matter of minutes.
The person who administers the vaccine to you or your kid will be trained to recognise and treat allergic reactions. You or your child will make a full recovery with proper care.
Speak with your GP or practice nurse if:
- You’re concerned about getting a vaccine for yourself or your child.
- you’re not sure if a vaccine is safe for you or your child
You could also ask a health visitor any vaccine-related questions you have.
What’s in a vaccine?
The majority of individuals are unconcerned about vaccination ingredients and believe they are harmless.
A little amount of bacteria, virus, or toxin that has been weakened or killed in a laboratory is the main element in any vaccine.
This indicates that a vaccine has no risk of infecting healthy people. It’s also why vaccines are referred to as “live” or “killed” immunizations.
What’s the difference between a live or killed vaccine?
Live and killed vaccine comparison
Live (weakened) vaccines |
Killed (destroyed) vaccines
|
|---|---|
| Contain viruses or bacteria that have been weakened | Contain viruses or bacteria that have been destroyed |
| Cannot be given to people with a weakened immune system | Can still be given to people with a weakened immune system |
| Gives long-term protection | Often needs several doses or a booster vaccine for full protection |
Other vaccine ingredients
Other substances are occasionally added to vaccines to make them safer and more effective.
When used at such small levels, there is no evidence that any of these substances cause harm.
Aluminium (adjuvant)
Is it safe?
Adjuvants are added to vaccines in trace amounts that have been proven safe. Minor responses such as a small transient lump or redness at the injection site are possible.
We come into contact with aluminium on a regular basis. It can be found in trace amounts in the following foods:
- Practically every food
- Drinking water
- milk from a mother
- formula milk for babies
It’s also used in food packaging and in pharmaceuticals like antacids.
Despite the fact that little amounts of aluminium from these commonplace sources can accumulate in the body, they are not thought to be hazardous to our health. Aluminium is not used by our bodies, and it is progressively excreted in our urine.
There is no evidence that the levels of aluminium we come into contact with on a daily basis raise the risk of dementia or autism.
Aluminium is used in extremely small amounts in killed vaccinations. Vaccines containing an aluminium-based adjuvant have shown no negative side effects.
What is it?
Aluminium is a common metal that has been used in vaccinations for more than 70 years with no adverse effects.
A tiny quantity of aluminium-based adjuvant is included in most killed vaccinations to:
- Aid in the enhancement of our immunological response.
- Make the vaccination more long-lasting and effective.
- Minimise the amount of antigen that must be included in a vaccine.
- Occasionally, the number of dosages that must be given can be reduced.
Squalene oil (adjuvant)
Is it safe?
Vaccines containing gelatine have caused a rare number of allergic responses. If you have a known allergy to gelatine, consult your doctor first.
Some religious groups, such as Muslims and Jews, may be wary about using vaccines that include pig gelatine. Many religious authorities, on the other hand, have indicated that the use of gelatine in vaccinations is appropriate and does not violate any religious principles.
What is it?
Pig gelatine is used as a stabilising ingredient in various vaccines in order to:
- Assist in the protection of vaccinations against the effects of heat or freeze-drying.
- Assist in extending the vaccine’s shelf life.
The only vaccinations in the UK standard vaccination schedule that contain gelatine are:
- Shingles vaccination.
- The nasal flu vaccination for youngsters.
- MMR vaccination (one of two types).
Pork gelatine
Is it safe?
Adjuvants are added to vaccines in trace amounts that have been proven safe.
Minor responses such as a small transient lump or redness at the injection site are possible.
What is it?
The adjuvant squalene oil is used in the trivalent flu vaccine for individuals aged 65 and up.
It’s made from fish oil and goes through a rigorous purification process before being utilised in the flu vaccine.
Some vaccinations contain adjuvants, which are used to:
- Aid in the enhancement of our immunological response.
- Make the vaccination more long-lasting and effective.
- Minimise the amount of antigen that must be included in a vaccine.
- Occasionally, the number of dosages that must be given can be reduced.
Human serum albumin and recombinant albumin
Is it safe?
Yes, they are regarded as secure. The human serum albumin used in vaccines originates from blood donors who have been vetted. There is no risk of disease transmission due to the manufacturing method.
There are no human or animal products in recombinant albumin.
What are they?
Human serum albumin is a protein found in the blood of humans. It’s used to keep the quality of a chickenpox vaccination called Varilix stable throughout storage.
Recombinant albumin is made by cells that have had the human albumin gene introduced into them, such as yeast cells.
The cells may then produce enormous amounts of human serum albumin without having to remove it from human blood.
In one of the MMR vaccines used in the UK, recombinant albumin may be used as a stabiliser in very small doses (MMRVaxPro).
Egg protein
Is it safe?
The MMR vaccine is safe for children and adults who have a severe egg allergy.
Adults and children with an egg allergy should eat either:
- A flu vaccination that isn’t inactivated with eggs.
- A vaccination that contains very little egg protein (ovalbumin).
The egg protein level of the live nasal spray flu vaccine for children is quite low. It is safe to give to youngsters who are allergic to eggs.
Children and adults who have had a severe allergic reaction to eggs in the past may be advised to have their flu vaccine in a hospital setting.
What is it?
In the UK, there are two vaccines that contain minor amounts of egg protein in the normal schedule:
- The flu vaccine is made from hens’ eggs. It has the potential to cause an allergic reaction in persons who are allergic to eggs.
- The MMR vaccination is made using cells derived from chick embryos, which are not the same as hens’ eggs. This indicates that it does not cause an allergic reaction.
Formaldehyde
Is it safe?
Formaldehyde is naturally present in the human bloodstream at amounts significantly higher than those seen in vaccines.
Although formaldehyde can be hazardous in high doses, the minuscule amounts contained in vaccines pose no health risk.
What is it?
Formaldehyde is a chemical that is also used to make lethal vaccinations. It’s utilised early on in the production process to eliminate or inactivate bacterial or viral toxins.
The formaldehyde is diluted out after the antigens have been inactivated. It’s likely that traces of the substance will remain in the finished vaccine.
Antibiotics
Is it safe?
Before getting a vaccine, tell your doctor or practice nurse if you’re allergic to neomycin or any other antibiotic.
Antibiotics that have been linked to adverse reactions, such as penicillin, are rarely used in vaccines.
However, minute amounts of the antibiotic neomycin, which can cause an allergic reaction, can be detected in:
- The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
- 6-in-1 vaccine
- Inactivated quadrivalent flu vaccine
- Repevax is a 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccination.
- Vaccination for shingles
What are they?
Antibiotics are included in some vaccines to prevent bacteria from growing during the vaccine’s manufacture and storage.
Antibiotics are present in the finished vaccine at trace levels.
The electronic medicines compendium (EMC) website has a complete list of all vaccine components.