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Vaccines are Safe

Vaccines have side effects.

Fortunately, they are usually very mild.

And understanding that vaccines are safe, makes getting their kids vaccinated an easy decision for most parents, as they understand that the many benefits of vaccines far outweigh any possible risks.

How Do We Know Vaccines Are Safe?

If you are on the fence about vaccines, simply saying vaccines are safe might not be enough for you.

Would it help to see all of the organizations that work to ensure that vaccines are safe?

Several post-licensure vaccine safety systems at the CDC and FDA monitor for safety issues, including VAERS, the Vaccine Safety Datalink, and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Project, in addition to other global vaccine safety systems.

“​Over the previous 40 years the IOM has conducted over 60 vaccine safety studies, including this comprehensive review of the immunization schedule. The IOM committee did not find any evidence of major safety concerns related to receiving on-time vaccinations according to the Recommended Immunization Schedule for children. They concluded that this should help to reassure stakeholders. Further, they noted that while the receiving on-time vaccines was not harmful, it was strongly associated with reducing vaccine-preventable diseases. ​”

American Academy of Pediatrics on Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence

Still wondering how we really know vaccines are safe?

A 2013 report about vaccines from the Institute of Medicine uncovered no evidence of major safety concerns.
A 2013 report about vaccines from the Institute of Medicine uncovered no evidence of major safety concerns.
  • vaccines go through a long period of pre-licensure testing and evaluation when being developed to make sure they are safe and that they work before they are approved
  • vaccines are tested together
  • there are long-term studies on vaccine safety
  • vaccines are continually monitored after they are made, to make sure they maintain their potency, are kept at the proper temperature, and other quality testing
  • 40 years of safety reports from the Institute of Medicine (IOM)
  • reports from the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, which has reviewed and commented on everything from aluminum adjuvants and the potential for immunogenic overload (too many too soon) to the safety of HPV vaccines

And it is important to know that much of the information that you hear and read that is trying to scare you about vaccines and vaccine ingredients is simply not true and easily debunked.

What to Know About Vaccine Safety

From years and years of pre-licensure vaccine safety testing to continual post-licensure vaccine safety monitoring, we can be confident that vaccines are safe.

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Last Updated on April 6, 2024

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