Frequently Asked Questions
- Are vaccines more dangerous than diseases?
- Are vaccines safe?
- Do Adults need to be vaccinated?
- Do vaccines cause diseases like diabetes, autism, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis?
- The diseases aren’t around anymore, so is there a need to vaccinate children?
Are vaccines more dangerous than diseases?
The diseases are much more dangerous than the vaccines. For example, one in every 20 people who gets Hib (a type of influenza) will die, and many of those who survive will have permanent brain damage or deafness. One in every 50 people who gets hepatitis B will die. On the other hand, less than one in a million people who get vaccinated will have a severe adverse effect.
Vaccines are very safe. They are one of the safest tools your doctor or nurse uses. Your arm might hurt after you get a shot, but the pain will go away. In Canada, severe allergic reactions happen less than once per million doses of vaccine. One in a million is the same as one penny in $10,000, or one grain of sugar in a cupful.
Do Adults need to be vaccinated?
Adults need booster shots for Tetanus and Diphtheria every ten years. This maintains your immunity and keeps you safe.
Do vaccines cause diseases like diabetes, autism, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis?
Well-controlled studies have found no association between vaccination and these diseases.
The diseases aren’t around anymore, so is there a need to vaccinate children?
The diseases are still around, and you can get them if you aren’t immunized. Northerners often travel to other parts of the world where these diseases still kill many people. Some of these diseases are still found in the NWT and other parts of Canada. People who aren’t immunized can very easily catch and spread diseases like measles and polio. There are well documented examples of the health risks that arise when many people do not get immunized.