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Frequently Asked Questions

​Why are vaccinations important?

Vaccinations protect your child against serious diseases by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies against certain bacteria or viruses.

 

What diseases do vaccines protect against?

Immunizing your baby with vaccines protects against serious diseases like measles, whooping cough, polio, meningococcal disease, tetanus, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chickenpox, influenza, and more. (See Other Diseases & Vaccines)

 

I don’t know anybody who has had these diseases. Why does my baby need these vaccines?

While a few of these diseases have virtually disappeared because of vaccination, outbreaks of measles and whooping cough still occur in the U.S. Even if some diseases do completely disappear in the U.S., they are common in other parts of the world and are just a plane ride away. If we stop vaccinating against these diseases, many more people will become infected. Vaccinating your child will keep him or her safe.

 

Are there better ways to protect my baby against these diseases?

No. Breastfeeding offers temporary immunity against minor infections like colds, but it is not an effective means of protecting a child from the specific diseases that vaccines prevent. Likewise, vitamins won’t protect against the bacteria and viruses that cause these serious diseases. Chiropractic remedies, naturopathy, and homeopathy are totally ineffective in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases. Some parents think that getting the “natural” disease is preferable to “artificial” vaccination, leading to a “natural” immunity. Some even arrange chickenpox “parties” to ensure their child gets infected. It’s true that for some diseases, getting infected will lead to immunity, but the price paid for natural diseases can include paralysis, brain injury, liver cancer, deafness, blindness, or even death. When you consider the seriousness of these risks, vaccination is definitely the better choice.

 

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are among the safest medical products available, and scientists are working to make sure they are made even safer. Every vaccine undergoes extensive testing before being licensed, and vaccine safety continues to be monitored as long as a vaccine is in use. Most side effects from vaccination are minor, such as soreness where the injection was given or a low-grade fever. These side effects do not last long and are treatable. Serious reactions are very rare. The tiny risk of a serious reaction from vaccination has to be weighed against the very real risk of getting a dangerous vaccine-preventable disease or suffering complications from it. (See Credible Vaccine Resources)

 

What if my baby has a cold or fever and is taking antibiotics? Can he or she still get vaccinated?

Yes. Your child can still get vaccinated if he or she has a mild illness, a low-grade fever, or is taking antibiotics. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider if you have questions.

 

How many times do I need to bring my baby in for vaccinations?

At least five visits are needed before age two, but the visits can be timed to coincide with well-child check-ups. Your baby should get the first vaccine (hepatitis B) at birth while still in the hospital. Multiple visits during the first two years are necessary because there are 14 diseases your baby can be protected against, and most require two or more doses of vaccine for the best protection. (See Immunization Schedules)

 

How do I know when to take my baby in for vaccinations?

Your healthcare provider should let you know when the next doses are due. For infants, most vaccinations are given on a 2, 4, and 6-month schedule. If you are unsure, call your healthcare provider’s office to determine when your child should return for vaccinations. Doses cannot be given too close together, or immunity doesn’t have time to build up. On the other hand, you don’t want to delay your child’s vaccinations and get behind schedule because, during this time, your child remains unprotected against these serious diseases. (See Immunization Schedules)

 

What if I miss an appointment? Does my baby have to start the vaccines all over again?

No. If your baby misses some doses, it’s not necessary to start over. Your provider will continue from where he or she left off.

 

How do I keep track of my baby’s vaccinations?

In many medical practices, your child’s immunization record is entered into an electronic record-keeping system. It’s important that you keep home records, too, so be sure to ask for a personal record card or a printed copy of your child’s vaccinations. If you don’t receive it, be sure to ask. Bring your copy of the record to all medical appointments. Whenever your child receives a vaccine, make sure your copy gets updated. Your child will benefit by having an accurate vaccination record throughout his or her life. (See Immunization Schedules)

 

What if I can’t afford to get my child vaccinated?

Your child’s health depends on timely vaccinations. Vaccinations are free or low-cost for children when families can’t afford them through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Call your healthcare provider or local/state health department to find out where to go for affordable vaccinations. You can access a listing of contacts for your state’s VFC program at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/contacts-state.html.

 

Why is it important that all children get vaccinated?

Unvaccinated children are capable of spreading the disease to other children, even those who have been vaccinated, since no vaccine is 100% protective. In the U.S., vaccinations have decreased most vaccine-preventable childhood diseases by more than 95 percent (see www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4037.pdf for examples). Vaccines have minimized or eliminated outbreaks of certain diseases that were once lethal to large numbers of people, including measles and polio in the U.S. and smallpox worldwide. However, because the bacteria and viruses that cause diseases still exist, the public health gains achieved through vaccines can only be maintained by ensuring that vaccination rates remain high enough to prevent outbreaks. Vaccines are effective not only because they protect individuals who have been vaccinated but also because they confer a broader protection for communities by establishing “herd immunity.” When a sufficiently high proportion of a population is vaccinated against infectious diseases, the entire population can obtain protection. Herd immunity is critical for protecting the health of many groups of people who are especially vulnerable to communicable diseases: those who cannot be vaccinated, either because they are too young or because a medical condition makes vaccination too risky.

 

I thought vaccines were just for babies. Do adults really need to get vaccinated?

Vaccination is as important for adults as it is for children, and yet many adults are not optimally vaccinated. Adults need vaccines because vaccine immunity (protection) may have diminished over time,  and a person will need a booster shot to enhance protection. For some diseases like whooping cough, adults who are vaccinated prevent the spread of disease and, in turn, protect children.  There are also newer vaccines, such as the shingles vaccine, that protect against diseases/conditions that develop in adults. To find out when and which vaccines adults need, go to the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html 

 

Where can adults get vaccinated?

Check with your clinic to see if they administer vaccines. Additionally, your local pharmacy or local hospital may administer influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and Tdap vaccines. Clinics may also be available in shopping malls, grocery stores, senior centers, and other community settings. (See Immunization Schedules)

 

I'm an adult; how do I pay for vaccines?

Out-of-pocket immunization costs may vary depending on your insurance coverage. Check with your doctor, pharmacy, and health insurance plan to determine your costs. All Health Insurance Marketplace plans, and most other private insurance plans must cover certain vaccines without charging a copayment or coinsurance when provided by an in-network provider. This is true even for patients who have not met a yearly deductible. 

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Medicare Part B plan will pay for the following:

Medicare Part D plans make all adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) (except those covered by Part B) available at no cost, including:

  • RSV

  • Zoster (shingles) vaccine

Beginning October 1, 2023, most adults with coverage from Medicaid and CHIP will be guaranteed coverage of all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at no cost to them.

 

Do vaccines have side effects?

Vaccines are among the safest medicines available. Some common side effects are a sore arm or fever. There is a very small risk that serious problems could occur after getting a vaccine. However, the potential risks from the diseases vaccines prevent are much greater than the potential risks associated with the vaccines themselves.

 

I’m traveling abroad; what vaccinations do I need?

Contact your doctor, pharmacy, or local health department as early as possible to determine which immunizations you need. Vaccines against certain diseases, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, yellow fever, and typhoid fever, are recommended for different countries. The time required to receive all immunizations will depend on whether you need one or a series of shots. You can also visit the CDC's Travelers' Health Website for up-to-date information on immunization recommendations for international travelers.

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I have read conflicting information about the ingredients in vaccines. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiled the ingredient list for most vaccines into a table. While the table may be helpful for people concerned about particular allergies or ingredients, it is important to realize that the table does not indicate quantities in each vaccine. In most cases, the quantities are so minimal that they do not cause allergic reactions or symptoms of toxicity. Further, many of these ingredients are commonly found in other products. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has also broken down antigens, adjuvants, stabilizers, and preservatives found in vaccines, and that information can be accessed here: https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-ingredients

(See Credible Vaccine Resources)

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From www.vaccineinformation.org

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