Why vaccines are safe

Learn more. CISA Project. Vaccine Safety Quick Links. Vaccine Safety Protocols. Myocarditis Investigation Updated Oct. Related Links. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Vaccine Safety. On this page Basics Summary Start Here. Learn More Related Issues Specifics. See, Play and Learn Videos and Tutorials. Resources No links available. For You Children Women. What are vaccines? Do vaccines cause side effects? How are vaccines tested for safety? First, the vaccine is tested in labs. Based on those tests, the FDA decides whether to test the vaccine with people. Testing with people is done through clinical trials.

In these trials, the vaccines are tested on volunteers. Clinical trials usually start with 20 to volunteers, but eventually include thousands of volunteers. The clinical trials have three phases.

The trials are looking for the answer to important questions such as Is the vaccine safe? What dose amount works best? How does the immune system react to it? How effective is it? During the process, the FDA works closely with the company who makes the vaccine to evaluate the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. If the vaccine is found to be safe and effective, it will be approved and licensed by the FDA.

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics provide more detailed information and recommendations for individuals and populations that should or should not receive individual vaccines. For example, persons with severe immunocompromising conditions—such as leukemia or untreated AIDS, or those who have had a bone marrow transplant—should not receive live vaccines. Unvaccinated children are at increased risk of acquiring disease and transmitting these diseases to other children.

Drops in vaccine coverage have resulted in outbreaks and resurgence of diseases. Vaccine refusal has been associated with outbreaks of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, varicella, pneumococcal disease, measles, and pertussis in the United States and other countries.

For example, parts of Europe have seen large outbreaks of measles as some parents are refusing measles vaccines for their children amid safety concerns. In the s and s, many countries—Japan, the U. Tagged public health , vaccines , autism. Share on Twitter. Share on Facebook. Pin it on Pinterest.

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