Parents are hearing lots of conflicting information in the news right now about childhood vaccination schedules and the best way to keep their children healthy. It’s normal to feel confused or overwhelmed.
Dr. Cara Biddle, chief of General Pediatrics and Community Health at Children’s National Hospital, answers common questions about vaccines and shares guidance on how to keep your kids safe and healthy.
Q: How do vaccines work and why are they important?
A: Decades of rigorous research show that vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness and keep children healthy, making them a cornerstone of our preventive services. By training the immune system to recognize a virus or bacteria early on, vaccines prepare the body to respond quickly and effectively when exposed in the future.
Public health needs vary from country to country. Factors such as disease prevalence, healthcare access and community risk vary widely. For example, the size and diverse population of the United States creates different public health and immunization needs than a smaller country like Denmark. Vaccines protect not only the individual child but also classmates, families and the broader community from otherwise serious disease and illness through herd immunity.
Q: Are vaccines still safe and available for my child?
A: Yes. Families should be assured that all childhood vaccines remain available to their children. No vaccines have been banned or removed. They are also still covered by insurance, including by programs like Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Vaccines for Children (VFC). No new research has surfaced around immunizations that lead pediatricians to believe any vaccinations are unsafe.
Q: Who should I talk to when making decisions about vaccines for my child?
A: Parents should talk to their trusted pediatrician about what is right for their child. This is even more important as recommendations continue to evolve.
Pediatricians are always available to support parents in decision making about vaccines. Common questions that pediatricians receive and welcome include:
- What vaccines are recommended for infants, children and teenagers?
- Are there any side effects or risks of vaccines?
- Is it safe to give multiple vaccines on the same day?
- What immunizations should parents and other household members receive when they have a newborn baby?
- What kind of data on vaccines can you share to help me feel confident in my decisions as a parent?
Q: What message do pediatricians want parents to hear about vaccines right now?
A continued decrease in vaccination rates could have serious consequences on public health in the United States, including outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough.
Right now, pediatricians are reminding families of what we’ve known for years: Vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for protecting individual children and the health of communities nationwide.
Want to hear more from Children’s National experts? On The Lead in Peds podcast, pediatric leaders share the stories and science behind the breakthroughs improving children’s health.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
