The medical community considers vaccination to be one of the biggest public health success stories. Vaccines typically given in early childhood have drastically lowered the incidence of serious illnesses such as measles. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that since 2000, the measles vaccine has prevented over 25 million deaths worldwide.
But in recent years, more and more parents have become vaccine hesitant, preferring to delay or even skip certain shots for their children. “The COVID pandemic created a lot of fear and mistrust among patients,” says Yolaine Civil, M.D., a pediatrician at Henry Ford Health. “And that has made some parents question the safety of newer vaccines as well as routine childhood vaccines.”
Talk To Your Doctor About Vaccine Hesitancy
Your doctor and your child’s pediatrician share an important goal with you: They want to help keep your family healthy and safe. And most doctors advise that one of the most effective ways to accomplish that is to get recommended vaccines.
But your healthcare providers should also be people you feel comfortable talking to and sharing your vaccine fears with. “Don’t make up your mind about vaccines for your child without getting input from your doctor,” says Dr. Civil. “If you have questions and concerns, write them down and bring them to your next appointment.”
Part of your pediatrician’s job is to educate you on the impact of vaccinating—or not vaccinating—your children. Come in with an open mind and let them share their perspectives on the importance and safety of vaccines. Henry Ford Pediatrics has an established task force to stay on top of the latest knowledge about vaccinations and disease prevention to help with patient education.
Know What Vaccine Side Effects To Expect
Vaccine hesitancy often results from a fear of the vaccine making your child sick, causing side effects or even creating long-term health consequences. For newer vaccines, the biggest concern parents voice is a fear of unknown health effects. For routine childhood vaccines, parents may worry about specific ingredients causing harm.
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“A lot of parents I see quote anecdotal evidence,” says Dr. Civil. “They’ve heard stories about kids who got sick after getting the flu shot and assume the vaccine gave them the flu.” She still hears parents voice concerns about a connection between childhood vaccines and autism. But she reassures parents that studies have thoroughly disproven any link.
Any type of vaccine can have side effects, but most are mild and short-lived. Soreness at the injection site, tiredness, headache, nausea or fever are common side effects your child may experience after a shot. Talk to your doctor about what to expect after your child receives a vaccine and how you can treat side effects.
Understand The Health Risks Of Not Vaccinating Your Child
“It’s understandable that people have concerns about vaccines—both new and old—and how they might affect their kids,” says Dr. Civil. “But in many cases, parents don’t truly understand the seriousness of the diseases those vaccines can help prevent.”
Because vaccines have significantly reduced cases of measles and mumps, most of us have never even known anyone who got those diseases. “I tell parents about my work in Africa with populations who haven’t been widely vaccinated,” says Dr. Civil. “I explain how serious, and even life-threatening, things like measles and whooping cough can be for children.”
If your child has asthma or other chronic health conditions, vaccinations can play an important role in keeping them out of the hospital. “When parents are worried because they have to bring their child to the doctor so often and wonder what they can do to help, I talk about the flu shot and other vaccines,” says Dr. Civil. “Because I know that vaccines can have a direct impact on keeping kids out of the doctor’s office and out of the hospital.”
Seek Out Trusted Sources Of Vaccine Information
The internet puts an incredible amount of health information at your fingertips. But the problem is that not everything you read online is always 100% accurate. “I encourage my patients to research vaccines and learn about how they work and why they’re safe,” says Dr. Civil. “But you need to go to reliable sources, and not get important health advice from TikTok.”
She recommends looking to websites from trusted agencies, such as:
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Educating yourself is the best way to combat vaccine fears. And ultimately, that will help you do what’s best for your family.
Reviewed by Yolaine Civil, M.D., a pediatrician who sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center - New Center One.
