Vaccines help prevent dangerous diseases, including measles, polio, whooping cough and hepatitis, from getting out of control in individuals and communities. The CDC’s Catch-Up Immunization Schedules for Children Over 4 Years and Adults provides guidance on age-appropriate vaccination dates based on the first age acceptable to receive a given vaccine. This in turn makes the immune system ready to effectively ward off infections.
But despite the many documented benefits, parents in the U.S. still delay vaccinations — for many reasons, including safety concerns, efficacy, or what can only be called philosophical beliefs. Knowing the potential advantages and hazards of this course of action is essential to making well-informed decisions.
Pros of Delaying Vaccinations
Reduced Acute Adverse Events
The most common reason that some parents postpone vaccinations is concern about possible side effects, such as fever, swelling or irritability. By spreading out vaccines, parents feel they can lessen the immediate load on their child’s immune system, which might lead to fewer adverse reactions.
Increased Parental Comfort
If a vaccine has not been recommended during the 11th, 12th month, then delaying it will give the parents more time to research and understand the reasons behind the positive and negative aspects of the vaccine. This may offer a relief for parents who are unsure whether to adhere to the standard immunization schedule.
Philosophy for Special Cases
Some parents say they delay vaccinations in order to customize the schedule to what’s best for their child’s health. This could work for example in the case of a child that could be sick or with an existing condition, temporarily delaying some vaccinations in order to avoid negative consequences.
Cons of Delaying Vaccinations
Higher Chance of Being Exposed to Illness
Skipping vaccines puts kids at risk of preventable diseases for longer. For instance, measles is a highly infectious disease, and even a small delay in vaccination can leave a person at risk for the infection, especially during outbreaks.
Compromised Herd Immunity
Vaccination protects not just the person being vaccinated but also those around them (herd immunity). Herd immunity happens when the bulk of the population is vaccinated, preventing the spread of disease and protecting those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Vaccines, especially if delayed, can erode herd immunity and leave the general population exposed.
Risk of Co-administering Vaccines
Vaccines postponed can lead to a compressed schedule later with multiple vaccines needing to be given in a short time frame. This could create more tension for the child — and perhaps even more stress for parents who just wanted to minimize it.
Higher Healthcare Costs
Such delayed vaccination often requires extra visits with health care providers to receive individual shots. Such visits can add up, leading to greater out-of-pocket costs for families. Furthermore, instead of prevention, treatable diseases cause a great deal of money to be spent in hospitals.
What Do Experts Recommend?
Both the AAP and the CDC strongly encourage following the recommended childhood vaccine schedule. These recommendations result from decades of research and offer the most effective protection at the correct ages. Delays can upset this balance, making some vaccines less effective.
But health care providers know that every family’s situation is different. It is necessary for both parents and pediatricians to communicate openly in order to address concerns and create a plan to put the child’s health first.
Let’s Get Rid of the Myths: 4 Common Misconceptions About Vaccinations
Vaccines Overwhelm the Immune System
One of the strongest myths is that multiple vaccines can swamp a child’s immune system. Studies have found that children encounter far more antigens (substances that provoke an immune response) through everyday life than from vaccination.
Vaccines Cause Autism
Another myth lies behind a discredited study published in the 1990s. Since then, mountains of research have disproven any connection between vaccines and autism.
Natural Immunity is Better
Although natural immunity — acquired through becoming infected with and then recovering from a disease — can be effective, it does carry serious risks. Vaccines offer immunity without suffering through illness and all its possible complications.
Strategies for Reluctant Parents
If you are considering postponing vaccinations, it is important to weigh the pros and cons very carefully. Here are some tips for doing so:
Seek Information: Use reliable sources like the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) to get correct information.
Talk to Your Pediatrician: Share your fears and get answers. Unlike lots of conflicting internet advice, pediatricians can offer evidence-based advice specific to your child’s health.
Staying informed on outbreaks: Being up-to-date on local disease outbreaks and the risks they pose to unvaccinated or partially unvaccinated children.
Develop a Catch-Up Plan: If you opt to delay vaccination, discuss the best way to catch up with your health care provider, minimizing risk for yourself and your child.
Conclusion
Whether to postpone vaccinations is a personal decision that has far-reaching implications for you child and the community. Though postponing vaccinations may seem a less risky approach for some families, it’s important to think about the higher risk of disease exposure, reduced herd immunity and possible financial implications. As always, following the recommended vaccination schedule is the best way to protect your child and public health efforts in the U.S.
