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It's a Fact: Children Need Vaccines
The flu vaccine is not the only vaccine that has given rise to some misinformation in public discourse. Non-scientifically based conclusions about children's vaccines also have arisen, leading some parents to ignore childhood vaccine recommendations from reputable sources, such as physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Common Myths
The following myths are addressed to assist parents in making informed decisions about vaccinating their children:
Myth: It is better to be naturally infected by a disease rather than vaccinated.
Fact: No. Diseases cause suffering and cause cause death. Vaccines protect people from getting sick from diseases.
Myth: During an outbreak, people who have been vaccinated are more likely to catch the disease.
Fact: The opposite is true. People who have been vaccinated are less likely to catch the disease. If you catch the disease after being vaccinated, chances are that you will be less sick because of the vaccine.
Myth: Most of these childhood diseases are gone from the United States. So, my children do not need the shots.
Fact: These diseases have not been completely eliminated from the U.S. Also, outbreaks of disease can be spread from other countries with higher disease rates.
Use the childhood immunization schedule (PDF 49kb) and work with your children's physician to keep your children's shots current.
Cold and Flu
Information about cold and flu prevention from PHP's GoodHealth News article.