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Vaccine Safety

Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled children and adults just a few generations ago. As a result, people are more concerned about the risks associated with vaccines than on the risks of the diseases they prevent

• General Vaccine Safety Information Links
• Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS)
• Links for Parents and Providers
• MMR Vaccine and Autism: No evidence of a link
• Multiple Immunizations
• Thimerosal

General Vaccine Safety Information Links

• Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a cooperative program for vaccine safety of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS is a post-marketing safety surveillance program, collecting information about possible side effects that occur after the administration of US licensed vaccines.

The VAERS Website provides a nationwide mechanism by which adverse events following immunization may be reported, analyzed, and made available to the public. The VAERS Website also provides a vehicle for disseminating vaccine safety-related information to parents/guardians, health care providers, vaccine manufacturers, state vaccine programs, and others.

Links for Parents and Providers

• Evaluating Immunization Information on the Web
• Immunization Action Coalitions’ Vaccine Safety Resources
• CDC Six Common Misconceptions
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Vaccine Safety FAQ & Hot Topics
• Canadian Study on Autism Prevalence
• Thimerosal Content in Some US Licensed Vaccines from John Hopkins University
• Links to Prescribing Information (Package Inserts) for Some US Licensed Vaccines from John Hopkins University

MMR Vaccine and Autism: No evidence of a link

• There is no proven evidence that any vaccine increases the risk of developing autism or any other behavioral disorders.
• Experts agree that autism is most likely a genetic disorder that occurs before birth. Medical researchers have found biological differences in the brain of children with autism or autism-like disorders.
• Typical symptoms of autism are first noted after the age of 1 year. Recent research indicates that subtle symptoms are detectable as early as 4 months of age. The MMR vaccine is first given between the ages of 12 and15 months; therefore the apparent onset may simply be an expected but unrelated chance occurrence.
• Childhood immunizations are safe and remain the most effective way to prevent disease.
• Vaccine side effects remain extremely rare. Disability to even one child is unacceptable, but a child’s risk of developing health problems from an immunization is far less than the risk of suffering complications from the disease itself.
• Vaccine surveillance systems are in place to identify potential issues with vaccines before they become a problem. Several of these systems have been examined for evidence to indicate a link between vaccines, particularly MMR and autism. No links have been found in any of the reporting system to this date.
  
  Links to More Information on MMR Vaccine and Autism
  • A Scientific Review of MMR Vaccine and Autism (PDF 140kb)
  • Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report on MMR and Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • National Autistic Society (UK)  

Multiple Immunizations

Children today receive more vaccinations, but the amount of antigen (substance that causes an immune response) in each vaccine is less than those given in earlier years. Available data show no adverse effects from giving multiple immunizations in one visit.

                    Link to More Information on the Safety of Multiple Immunizations (CDC)

 

Thimerosal

Thimerosal is used as a preservative in some vaccines. It has been used since the 1930s with no harmful effects other than local reactions being reported. As a precautionary measure to reduce overall exposure to mercury in the environment, it has been reduced or eliminated from vaccines. Except for some flu vaccines, all vaccines routinely given to young children are available without Thimerosal.

• Washington State Vaccine Program: Current Vaccines and Thimerosal Content (PDF 44kb)
• Thimerosal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF 22kb)

Links to More Information on Thimerosal

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) FAQ on Mercury, Thimerosal, and Vaccine Safety
• Parent/Public FAQ: Legal Limits of Mercury-Containing Vaccines (PDF 34kb)
• Provider FAQ: Implementation of Mercury Limits in Vaccines (PDF 43kb)
• Availability of Thimerosal-Free Vaccines (CDC)
• Minnesota Department of Health Thimerosal & Vaccines Fact Sheet (PDF 70kb)

 

Last Update : 04/17/2008 09:21 AM