Immunizations are an integral part of a person's health plan. According to the Kids Health Organization, some parents hesitate to have children vaccinated. Routine vaccines are unlikely to cause any serious illness, although some may cause mild reactions, such as soreness at the injection site or mild fever. Serious reactions are rare. The risks typically associated with vaccinations are small compared with the health risks associated with the diseases they are preventing.
Background
Allergic reactions are the body's exaggerated response to the presence of a harmless substance. If a person is allergic to the substance, the immune system that normally protects the body from bacteria and toxins will overreact to that substance's presence. An example of this would be an episode of sneezing and coughing in response to freshly cut grass. Allergies of this nature are most often treated as symptoms occur or preventative with the use of antihistamines.
Considerations
Avoiding allergens that appear to induce reactions is an area of focus for allergy treatments. The patient needs to understand where the allergens can be found and how to avoid them to be successful in limiting contact with them. The option of avoidance may not be possible in the case of vaccinations, however. According to the American Acedemy of Pediatrics, vaccines assist us to remain healthy and to avoid potentially life-threatening illnesses. Consult a physician or nurse if you or your child have had a known vaccine reaction to come up with a plan for subsequent vaccinations.
Prevention/Solution
Immunizations given on a recommended schedule help to ensure the health of children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccinations are simple and safe procedures and they save lives. Information provided by societies of physicians, public health agencies and other professional groups committed to the physical, mental and social well-being of children is typically accurate and well-researched. Being well-informed will help to prevent any unforeseen misunderstanding regarding any medical intervention.
Considerations
Rigorous testing and research have been completed to ensure that vaccines are safe. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), none of the immunizations being used in North America have been linked to autism, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease or any other major illness. The AAP has documented that some parents feel that their child will be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases because other children are vaccinated. The AAPN also notes that individuals who are too young or too sick to be vaccinated must depend on this concept to keep diseases away from them. Fewer vaccinated children provides opportunity for more serious diseases to return and infect all of those who are not protected.
Warning
Vaccination is always a choice. When there is no previous allergic history, there is little to no chance a person will experience an anaphylactic or life-threatening reaction to one of the many ingredients in a vaccine or medication or an environmental allergen. Anaphylaxis is treated with epinephrine injection and follow-up medical care. Vaccines prevent diseases that have multiple and severe complications. Some of these diseases, such as polio, have even been eradicated in the United States. Multiple immunizations provide the best protection to prevent the spread of many of these illnesses. Accurate and current information is imperative in making good preventative health decisions.
