Feeling hesitant about your own (or your child’s) vaccinations? Only one of the following three popular beliefs about vaccinations is true.
- Mercury in vaccines can accumulate in the body.
- The flu vaccine can actually cause the flu.
- People can have allergic reactions to vaccines.
Do you know which one is true? It’s the third one — allergic reactions.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, out of one million vaccines given, only ONE vaccine will cause a severe allergic reaction or death. Mild allergic reactions are slightly more common. If you do experience a reaction to a vaccine, a doctor can administer a shot of an antihistamine (for mild reactions) or epinephrine (for severe reactions).
- If you are allergic to egg, you may have problems with the flu vaccine.
- If you are allergic to gelatin, you may have problems with the MMR — measles, mumps, rubella — vaccine.
- If you are allergic to yeast, you may have problems with the HPV — human papillomavirus — and hepatitis B vaccines.
Tell your doctor if you have any of the above allergies BEFORE you get your shots. And keep in mind that vaccines prevent many more deaths than they cause by preventing disease.
As for the other fears, the CDC is ready to put them to rest.
Researchers have raised concerns over mercury in some vaccines. Thimerosal is a vaccine preservative that contains ethyl mercury. Recent studies have shown that ethyl mercury does NOT build up in the body. While other forms of mercury can be toxic, this form of the metal is safe.
When it comes to the flu shot, there is NO live virus in the injection. The inhaled version of the flu vaccine — FluMist — does contain live virus, but the virus is so weak that it is incapable of causing an infection. CDC experts point out that exposure to the flu right before you are immunized can still cause an infection (and lead to the myth that the shot itself can make you sick).