If they survive the infection, they will become immune to the virus that caused it, such as with chickenpox. It is true that natural immunity may sometimes be stronger than vaccine-acquired immunity, but the risks of this approach far outweigh its benefits.
For example, to develop natural immunity to measles, a child would need to contract it first. However, it can cause many uncomfortable symptoms and give rise to several complications. About 1 in 20 children develop pneumonia during the infection, and a quarter of people who get measles will require a stay in the hospital. Measles complications can be life-threatening. Developing vaccination-acquired immunity to measles involves a far lower risk of harm. It is extremely rare that someone reacts to the vaccine.
Vaccination is a safer choice than naturally acquired immunity and can save a child from having to go through a serious illness. Another anti-vaccination myth is that vaccinations may be harmful because they contain unsafe toxins. Although it is true that some vaccines contain substances that are harmful to the body in high amounts — such as mercury, formaldehyde, and aluminium — these chemicals are not as harmful as one might believe.
The body has exposure to these substances from various foods and through other products. For example, people consume formaldehyde when they eat fruit, vegetables, and even meat, including seafood and poultry. Humans often come into contact with aluminum, which is present in water, food ingredients, and preservatives. Some fish also contain moderate or even high levels of mercury. However, there is a lot of unverified health content online.
When reading about vaccination and other health choices, it is crucial to consider the accuracy of the content. Scientific research does not support claims that vaccination is unsafe. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
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By Mayo Clinic Staff. Jason Howland: She says the next set of routine immunizations is at age 11… Dr. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Making the vaccine decision. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Feb. Infants and children birth through age 6. Department of Health and Human Services.
Drutz J, et al. In the survey, conducted in , about 87 percent of pediatricians said they had encountered vaccine refusals, an increase from the 75 percent who reported refusals during the last survey from The most common reason, provided by three out of every four parents: Vaccines are unnecessary because the diseases they prevent have been wiped out in the United States.
Kathryn Edwards, co-author of a new American Academy of Pediatrics report based on the survey. The percentage of pediatricians who always dismiss patients over repeated vaccine refusals has also increased, doubling from 6 percent in to 12 percent in , the survey found. In every state, children who shouldn't receive vaccines for medical reasons—such as organ transplants or severe allergies —can receive medical exemptions. Opting out for non-medical beliefs is far more difficult.
In all but five U. Where non-medical exemptions are allowed, the process for obtaining one may be as simple as signing a form. Other states require parents to undergo an educational module or counseling by a physician on the risks and benefits of vaccination before they can get an exemption. With that said, states with easy exemption policies have more than twice the number of exemptions as those with difficult ones. While states continue to expand school vaccine requirements, they are not as comprehensive—and therefore not as protective—as the recommended schedule issued by the CDC.
For example, while many states require meningococcal and pertussis whooping cough vaccination in schools, only two require the HPV vaccine, and none require the flu vaccine. This is despite the fact that HPV and influenza kill over 11, and 70, people, respectively, every year.
This is why the CDC recommends vaccines against all four of these diseases for adolescents 11 to They are each considered equally important in the eyes of the ACIP but are rarely required by schools. That is not to say that all vaccines are equally important.
If a vaccine isn't necessary for everyone to get, the ACIP has ways of indicating that it is optional. In , the ACIP granted the meningococcal B vaccine a "provisional" recommendation, essentially leaving it up to healthcare providers to decide whether vaccination is appropriate on a case-by-case basis. It is important to note that school-mandated vaccine requirements are minimum standards. Because the ACIP schedule is more comprehensive, those who follow it will have no problem meeting requirements for school or work.
By contrast, getting only what is mandated may leave you vulnerable to preventable—and potentially serious—infections. If in doubt, speak with your healthcare provider to check if your child is getting all of the recommended vaccinations on the ACIP list, not just the mandated ones. Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization schedules. Updated February 5, Recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, Updated February 3,
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