Are Vaccinations Safe for My Child?

The majority of parents choose to vaccinate their children according to the standard doctor-recommend schedule; however, many parents still have questions about vaccination. If you are wondering whether vaccinating your child is safe, the answer is yes: the United States currently has the safest vaccine supply in history and millions of children safely receive their vaccines every year. A vaccine can prevent infections and diseases that would once kill or cause lasting harm to infants, children, and adults. An unvaccinated child is at risk for contracting diseases such as whooping cough and measles, which can cause severe illness, pain, disability, and even death. A vaccine uses extremely small amounts of antigens to help your child’s immune system learn to recognize and fight serious diseases. Antigens are parts of germs that activate the immune system. This allows your child to gain future protection from a disease without getting sick.

While some children do experience side effects from their vaccines, the main effects tend to be extremely mild and go away within a few days. Serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions, are extremely rare and medical professionals are trained to handle them if they do occur. In addition, all legitimate scientific and medical studies into vaccinations have concluded that there is no link between vaccinations and autism.

The disease-prevention benefits of vaccinating your child far outweigh the possible side effects for the vast majority of children. The only exceptions are cases where a child has a strong allergic reaction to a previous vaccine dose, a serious chronic medical condition (such as cancer), or a disease that weakens the immune system.

Protect Your Child...Prevent Poisoning

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Children Can Get Very Sick if They Are Poisoned, and Children Aged 1 to 3 Years Are at Highest Risk

Young children may put anything in their mouths. This is part of learning. Many household products can be poisonous if swallowed, if in contact with the skin or eyes, or if inhaled.

Common Examples

MEDICINES: Vitamins with iron, cough and cold medicine, allergy and asthma medicine, and pain and fever medicine
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS: Cleaning products, mothballs, furniture polish, drain cleaners, weed killers, insect or rat poisons, lye, paint thinners, laundry or dishwasher detergent, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, gasoline, kerosene, and lamp oil

Safety Rules

Keep harmful products locked up and out of your child's sight and reach.
Use safety latches or locks on drawers and cabinets where you keep dangerous items.
Take extra care during stressful times and when you are away from home.
Call medicine by its correct name. You do not want to confuse the child by calling medicine "candy."
Always replace the safety caps immediately after use.
Never leave alcohol within a child's reach.
Seek help if your child swallows a substance that is not food. Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or your doctor. Do not make your child vomit.
Keep the following telephone numbers by your phone:

POISON HELP: 1-800-222-1222

DOCTOR: ______________________________

EMERGENCY (usually 911): ____________
Keep products in their original containers. Never put nonfood products in food or drink containers.
Read labels with care before using any product.
Teach children not to drink or eat anything unless it is given by an adult.
Do not take medicine in front of small children. Children tend to copy adult behavior.
Check your home often for old medications and get rid of them by disposing of them properly. Many communities have a locked drop box for old or unneeded medications. You can search for a drop box at https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch. If no drop box is available in your area, mix medications with something unappealing like old coffee grounds or kitty litter, seal it in a plastic bag, and put it in the trash. Only flush medications if you have no other choice.
Get rid of substances used for old-fashioned treatments such as oil of wintergreen, boric acid, ammoniated mercury, oil of turpentine, and camphorated oil.
There is more of a danger of poisoning when you are away from home, especially at a grandparent's home. Check carefully for dangerous substances that may be within reach in the house or in purses.

Patient education handouts from TIPP—The Injury Prevention Program help pediatricians implement injury prevention counseling for parents of children newborn through 12 years of age.

The information in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.