Risks of Not Vaccinating Your Child
Not vaccinating your child significantly increases their risk of serious vaccine-preventable diseases that can lead to hospitalization, permanent disability, or death, while also putting vulnerable individuals in your community at risk for these diseases. 1
Disease-Specific Risks
When children are not vaccinated, they face substantial risks of contracting preventable diseases:
- Measles: Can cause pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), and death
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Can cause severe respiratory distress, pneumonia, and death, particularly in infants
- Polio: Can cause permanent paralysis
- Diphtheria: Can lead to heart failure, paralysis, and death
- Meningitis: Can cause brain damage, hearing loss, and death
- Hepatitis B: Can lead to chronic liver disease and liver cancer
Community Impact and Herd Immunity
Unvaccinated children don't just face individual risks:
They put others at risk: Unvaccinated children can transmit diseases to:
- Infants too young to be vaccinated
- People with compromised immune systems
- Individuals who cannot receive vaccines for medical reasons
- Even vaccinated individuals (as no vaccine is 100% effective) 1
They contribute to outbreaks: Unvaccinated children are often the starting point for community outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases 1
Statistical Evidence of Risk
- Up to 80% of pediatric deaths associated with influenza occur in unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children 2
- The risk of disease in unvaccinated populations is substantially higher than in vaccinated populations
Consequences of Alternative Vaccination Schedules
Some parents choose to delay or space out vaccines rather than refusing them entirely. This approach:
- Leaves children vulnerable to diseases for longer periods 1
- Has no scientific evidence supporting its safety or efficacy 1
- Complicates the vaccination schedule unnecessarily 1
- Results in children being less likely to complete their vaccination series 1
Common Parental Concerns vs. Facts
Safety Concerns
- Concern: Vaccines cause serious side effects
- Fact: The safety of currently recommended vaccines has been strongly affirmed by the Institute of Medicine and multiple safety monitoring systems 1
Schedule Concerns
- Concern: Too many vaccines overwhelm the immune system
- Fact: The current vaccine schedule is the only one tested and approved by multiple expert authorities for safety and efficacy 1
Natural Immunity Concerns
- Concern: Natural immunity is better than vaccine-induced immunity
- Fact: The risks of diseases far outweigh any benefit of natural immunity; vaccines provide protection without the dangers of the actual diseases
Social and Educational Impacts
Unvaccinated children may face:
- Exclusion from school during disease outbreaks 1
- Limitations on participation in certain activities
- Potential barriers to enrollment in schools or daycare facilities
Making an Informed Decision
When considering vaccination:
- Consult with healthcare providers who can provide evidence-based information
- Review reliable sources like the CDC or AAP websites
- Consider both individual and community health implications
- Understand that healthcare providers have a positive influence on vaccination decisions, even among parents with safety concerns 3
Remember that the clear message from medical experts is that "vaccines are safe and effective, and serious disease can occur if your child and family are not immunized." 1