Concerns About Childhood Vaccines and Immune System Health
Parental Fears and Vaccine Schedules
Many parents express worries that receiving multiple vaccines during early childhood could negatively affect their child’s immune system. A recent study conducted in the United States aimed to determine whether the childhood vaccine schedule influences the risk of developing non-targeted infectious diseases.
Increase in Routine Childhood Vaccines
Over the past three decades, the number of routine childhood vaccines in America has risen significantly, from three vaccines targeting seven diseases to ten vaccines aimed at 14 diseases. This increase has ignited public debate regarding the safety of childhood vaccinations, with some parents opting out or postponing vaccinations due to concerns about potential harm.
Trends in Vaccine Delays
Research conducted in 2015 and 2016 revealed that approximately 10-15% of parents choose to delay vaccinations for their children. Many parents believe that early immunization may overwhelm their children’s immune systems and heighten the risk of future infections. Although no definitive scientific evidence supports these claims, a 2013 committee from the Institute of Medicine recommended further investigation into the American childhood vaccination schedule.
Recent Research Findings
The latest results from the Institute for Health Research have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers analyzed medical records of 495,193 children born in the western United States between 2009 and 2013, comparing the disease risks in those who received the vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with those who did not.
If vaccines had been harmful to a child’s immune system, researchers anticipated that vaccinated children would show higher rates of infections for diseases not covered by the vaccines. However, the study found no significant differences in infection rates between the two groups.
Comparison to Previous Studies
These findings are consistent with a 2005 study that examined the Danish childhood vaccination schedule, which includes five vaccines targeting seven diseases. That study similarly found no adverse health effects linked to childhood vaccinations.
Recommendations for Parents
Given the absence of evidence indicating that the CDC’s childhood vaccination schedule is harmful to a developing child’s immune system, the authors of the study encourage parents to follow the recommended vaccination guidelines for their children.
Source
Written by Calvin J. Chan, B.Sc.
Reference: Glanz, J.M. et al. (2018). Association between estimated cumulative vaccine antigen exposure through the first 23 months of life and non-vaccine-targeted infections from 24 through 47 months of age. Journal of the American Medical Association. 319(9): 906-913.