FA16 Immunization Module’s Updates

Adverse reactions to vaccines

Due to a combination of misinformation and political agendas, vaccinations are not always seen advantageously. Misconceptions regarding immunization via vaccines are frequently used for political ammunition. Portions of populations can be dissuaded from acquiring vaccinations through these negatively held assumptions. The World Health Organization cites and challenges many widely held notions for vaccination deterrence, yet one belief with regards to adverse reactions to vaccinations can be seen throughout developing and developed countries: “"Vaccines cause many harmful side effects, illnesses, and even death - not to mention possible long-term effects we don't even know about." [1]

One common correlation is seen with the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP) vaccine and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This belief was fostered by fact that a reasonable proportion of infants who die from SIDS have been recently vaccinated. However, the causation is due to two separate events running parallel with one another: most infants die from SIDS at the same age range in which infants are normally vaccinated. The Institute of Medicine corroborated this fact with findings that suggested no correlation: “all controlled studies that have compared immunized versus non-immunized children have found either no association . . . or a decreased risk . . . of SIDS among immunized children.”[1]

However, it should be noted that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recognizes some adverse, yet not deleterious, effects of vaccinations. Mild side effects of vaccines includes, headaches, upper respiratory tract infection, stuffy nose, sore throat, diarrhea, or fever. These mild non-life-threatening symptoms can vary from 1-10% of people given vaccines. [2] Additionally, serious problems including blood in the urine, pneumonia, or stomach inflammation can reportedly occur in approximately 1% of individuals given vaccines.[2] However, these issues are not definitively attributed towards vaccinations.

Thus, mild symptoms may provide the basis for the severe claims supported by anti-vaccination believers. Adverse effects of vaccinations do occur, albeit they statistically affect a smaller portion of vaccinated individuals. Ultimately, the attributed causation of vaccinations linked to death of individuals is false, but has a reasonable basis to form the credibility of the argument.

[1]http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/initiative/detection/immunization_misconceptions/en/index4.html

[2]http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm

  • Murad Alqadi
  • Lochan Bellamkonda
  • Derek Sonnenberg