What about the side effects clearly associated with immunization


Vaccines are not 100% risk-free, in that like all other forms of medical intervention there is some degree of risk involved. However every vaccine is reviewed and rigorously tested for safety and efficacy before being given to children. Some vaccines offer complete protection while other forms provide partial protection or for a limited time. The other matter to deal with is the associated side effects. There are some repercussions linked with vaccinations but there has been much improvements to the extent that side-effects range from mild to non-existent for the vast majority of children. Reactions to vaccinations can be classified as local, systemic and allergic, and fortunately the latter is very uncommon.

Allergic reactions can be life-threatening and these include wheezing, hives, rapid heart beat which merits immediate medical attention. Parents should inform the doctor if their children have any known allergies. For example if the child has an egg allergy and the vaccine has traces of egg protein, the repercussions can be unpleasant so doctors should be informed as they will guide you on the course of action. Sometimes children will experience soreness at the site of the shot, rash, low-grade fever and irritability but not the exaggerated forms (seizure, neurological or death) previously linked with vaccinations, which even if they occur, are very, very rare. In rare situations, measles shot has been linked with seizures from high fever, which are benign and temporary, and fortunately too far in between. Another example of an extreme ramification is the Guillan-Barre syndrome associated with the flu shot. But when the risks of the diseases are weighed against the side effects, the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh these rarely occurring side effects.