1. Vaccines are safe. They undergo years of safety and efficacy testing prior to licensure and are closely and indefinitely monitored after they are licensed to detect any safety concerns. Vaccines have been shown to not cause autism, either through thimerosal, specirfic vaccinations, combination vaccinations, or other actions. The vaccine-autism "link" is a disproven myth.
2. Vaccines are effective. Vaccine-preventable diseases still cause deaths in the United States and abroad, but the number of cases of vaccine preventable disease reported annually in the United States has dropped 99-100% for most, and at least 87% for pertussis. Varicella, Rotavirus and Influenza still cause some deaths and many hospitalizations, though these should decrease with recent recommendations broadening the number of children and adults vaccinated against these diseases.
3. Vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat. Many countries around the world do not have high vaccine coverage rates or do not yet utilize newer vaccines, and imported cases of measles, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, and other illnesses are a very real concern with the ease of global travel. Imported cases of these diseases have occurred in the United States and small outbreaks have resulted. Complacency about vaccination, or refusal to vaccinate due to philosophical exemption or unfounded fears (of autism, for example) results in vulnerability to disease and the very real possibility of the re-establishment of these diseases in the United States. Other vaccine-preventable diseases (meningitis, for example) are still present in our communities and will once again become commonplace if vaccination rates fall.
Resources for Parents
