Public Health Agency of Canada
www.publichealth.gc.ca
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Vaccine Safety
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions and answers that follow are intended to assist in counselling about immunization; the wording and style are targeted at a general audience.
For vaccine questions specific to a particular disease, see the Vaccine-preventable Disease FAQs.
- What is a vaccination and how does it work?
- Do vaccines work?
- Are vaccines safe?
- How are vaccines made and licensed in Canada?
- Are there any reasons why someone should not be vaccinated?
- What would happen if we stopped immunizing?
- Why do we still need vaccines if the diseases they prevent have disappeared from our part of the world?
- Why can't I take a chance that my child won't get sick, as long as most other people are vaccinated?
- Do vaccines weaken the immune system?
- Can giving a child several vaccines at the same time overload the immune system?
- Can natural infection or a healthy lifestyle be effective alternatives to vaccines?
- Why do we need vaccines if we have better hygiene and sanitation to help prevent disease in Canada?
- What about reports that vaccines are linked to chronic diseases or problems such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?
- Do vaccines contain toxic ingredients?
- Can vaccines transmit animal disease to people?
- Is immunization compulsory in Canada? Does my child have to be immunized?
- Where can I get vaccinated and do I have to pay?
- Will my child have a reaction?
- Aside from following the routine childhood immunization schedule, are there any other vaccines or shots my child should get?
- I've heard that MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine can cause autism. Is that true?
- I've heard that thimerosol can cause autism. Is that true?
- What are the recommended vaccines for children?
Key messages on vaccine safety in Canada
- The vaccines used in Canada are highly effective and extremely safe.
- Serious adverse reactions are rare. The dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases are many times greater than the risks of a serious adverse reaction to the vaccine.
- Health authorities worldwide take vaccine safety very seriously. Expert committees in Canada investigate reports of serious adverse events.
- There is no evidence that vaccines cause chronic diseases, autism or sudden infant death syndrome. Alleged links - for example between hepatitis B vaccine and multiple sclerosis - have been disproved by rigorous scientific study.
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