How Delaying Vaccines Affects Your Kid Later In Life, According To Science
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Nothing gets all parents as charged as a discussion on vaccinations. This, despite many nurses, doctors, and health organizations coming forward to clear the air around vaccines. It has been repeatedly stated by one and all that vaccines are healthy and necessary. Still, many have their reservations regarding vaccines and decide to forgo them altogether. However, one must realize that delaying vaccines can have repercussions for the child later in life.
In This Article
Risk Of Irregular Immunization Schedules
The deputy director of the organization ‘National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases’, Allen S. Craig, once clearly spelled out that infants are at a greater risk of becoming sick if they follow an immunization schedule that spreads out shots or leave it out altogether (1). The study further shows that the illness can further lead to long-term health issues or even death. As per a study reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), if the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines are delayed until after 15 months, there is a higher risk of febrile seizures (2).
The major problem with contracting a disease caused by irregular immunization schedule is that it might cause severe health issues, if not death. Measles might cause a permanent hearing impairment. And mumps could lead to a permanent brain damage. As most of us know, polio can make you wheelchair-ridden for life and might also result in breathing issues.
Are There Any Benefits At All Of Delaying It?
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no! Its website clearly states that there are no benefits whatsoever to kids following immunization schedules which involve vaccination delays (3). It also clarifies that there are no setbacks when children receive vaccinations in a time-approved schedule. This will not overload your kid’s immune system with vaccines or cause any sickness.
Yes, the antigens present in the vaccines are derived from the germs itself. But, these germs have either been weakened or killed. Thus, they do not make the infant sick or cause any severe health issue. Even if the babies are vaccinated on a regular basis, it still contains quite a small amount of antigens. In fact, it is nothing in comparison with the antigens that an infant faces outside in the real world. These vaccines will help the child by providing him/her with antibodies that can battle vaccine-preventable diseases.
Trend Of Delaying Vaccines And Its Consequence
Pediatrician Matthew Davis told the University of Michigan that the trend of either delaying or foregoing the vaccine is gradually growing and can result in an increase in the outbreak of disease (4). This, in turn, will reduce the reliability of herd immunity for all who can’t get vaccinated. The herd immunity concept refers to prevention of large populations from a disease by being immune to it themselves. This prevention occurs because the immune population can’t become a vector, and thus, not expose others to a particular virus. Matthew further mentioned how it is more likely for a state with wider discretion regarding exemption of vaccines to suffer from a disease outbreak.
The journal, Scientific American, reported how misconceptions with respect to the safety of vaccines have led to 40 percent of the parents across the United States to either delay or forego a vaccine. The parents do it to prevent their kids from getting a rare vaccine-related reaction (5).
The irregularity in immunization schedules might result in putting your kid in serious danger like seizures in case of MMR vaccines. This might also result in more frequent visits to a doctor’s office, which is not only time-consuming but will also expose your infant to numerous other infectious diseases.
Obviously, at the end of the day, it is your choice. But, it is important to be aware of the risks pertaining to delay of vaccinations. So, now sit back, think, and make an informed choice!
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