Vaccines, Vaccinations and Immunizations: There is a Difference
Hi mamas and daddies! The 2021 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth to 18 years-old was released this month. So let’s discuss vaccines, vaccinations, and immunizations.
The mainstream conversation about vaccines, vaccinations, and immunizations has become so hostile. The goal here is not to contend for those that are labeled as “pro-vaxers,” or to denounce those labeled as “anti-vaxers,” or vice-versa. These labels have no place in health and science as they evoke confusion, contention, and fear for you as parents.
This is meant to offer you accurate information to help inform your own research as you make decisions regarding your child's health and immunization status. So, let’s start there.
As a healthcare provider, there have been numerous times that I've been asked my “position” on vaccines. While this inquiry is common from my patients’ parents, for some reason, this often happens when I’m far outside of the clinical setting as well.
There was one time at a 4th of July Bar-B-Que, pre-Covid pandemic, of course, I’d just sat down, ready to enjoy my favorite house bar-b-que combination of 2-beef ribs, 1-slice white bread, a fair scoop of potato salad that was touching the bar-b-que sauce from my ribs just beautifully, and a red-SOLO cup of lemonade...but I digress.
Anyway, the fellow guest and parent, leaned over, just when I was about to bite into my first tender rib and said “I know you’re getting ready to eat, and I think I already know what you are going to say, but what’s your position on vaccines?”
I'm going to be honest, whenever someone asks me this question or some version of it, I hear, “I want to argue about vaccines with you,” and that is just not how decisions regarding children’s health should be made.
The fact is, my “position” is children should receive their vaccines. I do understand that scientific evidence supports that vaccines are safe and effective. I hope to always offer parents the best explanation of these complex concepts, again, so that they make the best decisions for their children’s health. So that’s why my follow-up question to this question -including my fellow house bar-b-que guest- is always “what are your concerns regarding vaccines?”
Clarifying the Source of Concern
In my practice parents usually have a question about 1) the vaccines themselves, 2) the vaccination process, and/or 3) the level of immunization their child’s body undergoes after getting vaccinated. So, let’s clarify a few things.
Vaccines
A vaccine is a substance that goes into the body to stimulate the immune response against a disease.
Vaccines are safe and effective.
Before they are licensed, they undergo rigorous testing.
Vaccine safety is actively monitored after they are licensed.
There are resources that offer clear concise descriptions and rationale of vaccines and their make-up.
Click the link for the list of communicable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child-easyread.html
Vaccinations
Vaccination is how the vaccine gets into the body.
Most of us call this process “getting shots.”
Vaccination is carried out using a needle syringe containing the vaccine.
Parents are often concerned about their child’s discomfort during vaccination. Their children even more so!
When they are scared or nervous. Validate those feelings and let them know how strong they are!
While there can be pain at the injection site this can be relieved with medication prescribed by your child’s doctor at their visit.
Immunizations
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and CDC recommend on-time vaccinations.
Delaying or “spreading out“ vaccines could leave your children vulnerable to diseases that likely to have serious complications.
The immunization schedule has been researched and designed to build immunity against 14 potentially serious communicable diseases.
Serious disease can occur when children are not immunized. Unvaccinated children can put children who have not been fully immunized, and those children who are medically exempt from being immunized, at risk of communicable disease (i.e 2015 Measles Outbreak linked to Disneyland).
I know as parents you have every intention of making the best health decisions for your babies, and I want those decisions to be based upon scientific facts, not mainstream oppositional opinion. If your child has not had their vaccines as recommended by AAP and the CDC, it’s not too late. Schedule an appointment with your doctor today. I’ll be posting more about vaccines here on topics including the history of vaccinations and dispelling vaccine myths.
May this always be where all the children are well.
Parents, have your children received their vaccinations based upon the current vaccine schedule? If not, what are your concerns? Comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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