Many people argue that vaccine shots can cause various adverse side-effects, so much so, that a online-reporting system for such data has been established. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) estimates that over 30,000 cases are reported annually, however, apparently a mere 13% of these are considered serious side effects which may impact on ability, lead to hospitalization, death or become life-threatening. Putting that in perspective, that is roughly 3900 cases of those 30,000, ages varying between near newborns to people in their 90's. Spreadsheets of annual report can be downloaded from their website in CSV format.
The side-effects reported and contracted, that either have, or presumably have, been caused by vaccines, vary vastly, such as:
- Headaches,
- Fevers and/or unusually high temperatures,
- Runny nose or nasal congestion,
- Fatigue,
- Sore throat,
- Coughing,
- Vomiting,
- Joint pain,
- Mild rashes,
- Drowsiness,
- Fussiness or irritability in babies or young children
- Diarrhea,
- Abdominal pain,
- Fainting,
- Sore or itchy eyes,
- Wheezing,
- Swelling of glands,
- Loss of appetite,
- Hives,
- Stomach aches,
- Chills,
- Body aches,
- General or localized discomfort,
- Itching/tenderness/swelling/pain/bruising to the area where the injection was administered,
- Muscle aches,
- Nausea.
It is relatively common to experience mild side-effects with vaccinations, for example, the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated from research, that with a common childhood vaccine for MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella) resulted in 1 out of 5 children getting a fever as a result of the shot, and 1 out of 20 with a mild rash.
Another example is the stand-alone Varicella, which is Chickenpox, vaccination, and is administered to both children and adults. The CDC reports that 1 person or less out of 10 people contracted a fever, and 1 out of 25 people experiencing a mild rash.
We could also look at their reports on the Hepatitis A vaccine, Hepatitis A being a potentially fatal disease if untreated. It was reported that 1 of 6 children, and 1 of 25 adults, experienced headaches afterward, 1 or 12 children with loss of appetite, and 1 of 14 adults experiencing sudden tiredness after the injection.
Unfortunately, some side-effects can be severe and serious, and while extremely rare, risks do exist. There can be serious allergic reactions to ingredients, which is true for all types of vaccine, and while there are many reasons for an allergic reaction, most causes can be linked to lack of exposure prior and earlier in life to said allergen, as well as your immune system being sensitive to the allergen, and as there are things in vaccines, as well as what they have been cultured in, that we may not necessarily be exposed to on a daily basis; this makes this side effect slightly understandable when we look at it like this.
However, there are many other reported serious symptoms that are tied back to vaccines. The same study as the side-effects we have just looked at, reports severe side effects too, some of which are crippling and permanent. Of course, in we can also debate the fact that some of the effects of the illnesses which these immunisation prevent, or attempt to prevent, are more often than not crippling, permanent, or even fatal.
Some of these reported severe and serious reactions (may) include:
- Pneumonia
- Inflammation of the stomach or intestines
- Blood in the urine or stool
- Serious allergic reaction/Life-threatening allergic reactions
- Seizure/Jerking/Vacant staring
- Non-stop crying (3 hours+ in babies)
- Very high fever
- Long-term seizures
- Comas
- Lowered consciousness
- Permanent brain damage
- Deafness
- Intussusception (extremely rare) (type of bowel blockage only treatable in hospital)
- Severe pain
- Seizure caused by fever
- Severe nervous system reaction
- Life-threatening illness and/or organ failure
Rather extreme and frightening stuff. There are of course things that should be taken into consideration before passing judgement.
For example, it cannot be clear, nor proven either way, whether reported problems, mild or serious alike, were indeed caused by the vaccine or whether they simply happened in the time (which varies from minutes to weeks, possibly even months) after the vaccine was introduced to the system by chance. You could argue either side, that it is too coincidental, or give vaccinations the benefit of the doubt, but the fact is, that currently, there is no way to test, or no for certain what caused any illness or acclaimed reactions.
Extreme problems such as prolonged seizuring, seizuring due to fever, comas, Deafness (in regards to MMR), and permanent brain damage have been reported in regards to the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (DTaP), Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (MMRV), Varicella (Chickenpox), and Yellow Fever, but it must be noted that these cases happen so rarely, that there is even less cause to be certain it is caused by an adverse side effect of the vaccine, than there is with more common complaints. However, we still must accept that these complaints exist, and most, if not all of these vaccinations (with the exception of Yellow Fever as it isn't safe for infants) are given to children, young people, and babies.
Other note worthy points when arguing this case, is that the reports of fever-induced seizures have been reported more often after a MMRV shot, than a MMR shot and Varicella shot seperately, roughly 1 child in 1,250 when it comes to MMRV, and 1 child 2,500 as a result of having both shots, these seizures usually taking place days, sometimes weeks later.
When it comes to the DTaP vaccination, serious illness and side effects are also rare, 1 child in 14,000 suffering seizures, 1 child 1,000 reportedly crying for prolonged periods of time (3 hours+), 1 child in 16,000 with a very high fever, and serious allergic reaction occurring in less than 1 in a million doses. It should as well, be noted, that with all severe vaccine allergic reactions, most take place within minutes after the shot, thus help can be given instantly.
As well as this, with the Varicella/Chickenpox shot, there have been reports of severe brain reactions, and low blood count, but because this has happened so rarely, a concrete link to the vaccinations cannot be made.
In summary, all vaccines can have adverse side-effects, which are most frequently mild, but there are chances that a serious, and unexpected allergic reaction could take place, so it is best to stay in the vicinity of your doctor's office (or where-ever you and/or your child are being immunised) for a decent amount of time afterwards. There are reports that vaccinations can also cause severe side-effects, some of which could be life threatening or permanent, but this just happens far too rarely to be considered proof, as there is no way, serious or otherwise, to test to see if a problem or illness is the result of a vaccination.
Vaccines are constantly monitored for their safety, but they do, like most things, carry some form of risk; they are a type of medication, and many, if not all, medications have some kind of side effect. Choosing not to (or in some cases not allowing) immunise your child puts them at risk too, as well as potentially others who may come into contact with your child, and they could develop a serious, perhaps even life threatening disease, or serious complications to a disease or virus which could otherwise have been prevented. Either way, there is some form of risk involved, it's more a question of what you feel is more likely.
