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 Vaccine Safety Basics
bullet Information for Parents
bullet Why It's Important to Monitor Vaccine Safety
bullet How Vaccines Are Tested and Monitored
bullet Common Questions
bullet Vaccine Safety Concerns
  bullet Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
bullet MMR Vaccine
bullet Mercury and Vaccines (Thimerosal)
bullet Questions About Multiple Vaccines
bullet Questions About Vaccine Recalls
bullet Fainting (Syncope) After Vaccination
bullet Kawasaki Syndrome and RotaTeq Vaccine
bullet GBS and Menactra Meningococcal Vaccine
bullet Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
bullet Hepatitis B Vaccine and Concerns about Multiple Sclerosis
bullet History of Vaccine Safety

 Public Health Activities
bullet Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
bullet Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Project
bullet Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Network
bullet Brighton Collaboration
bullet Vaccine Technology
bullet Emergency Preparedness
bullet Publications
bullet Scientific Agenda

Vaccine Safety Concerns

CDC clinician Melanie King, RN, explains smallpox vaccine application during a 2002 Vaccinator Workshop.

Most parents today have never seen a case of diphtheria, measles, or other once-common diseases now preventable by vaccines. As a result, some parents wonder why their children must receive shots for diseases that do not seem to exist. Myths and misinformation about vaccine safety abound and can confuse parents who are trying to make sound decisions about their children's healthcare.

Vaccination is a common, memorable event, and association of events in time often signals cause and effect. While some of the sickness or reactions that follow vaccination may be caused by the vaccine, many are unrelated events that occur by coincidence after vaccination. Therefore, the scientific research that attempts to distinguish true vaccine adverse events from unrelated, chance occurrences is important.

Concerns about Autism

Vaccines and Thimerosal

Other Concerns

Page last reviewed: September 24, 2008
Page last updated: October 15, 2008
Content source: Immunization Safety Office

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