Debunking 5 myths about vaccines

1. Vaccines cause autism

2. Vaccines are toxic

3. Vaccines aren't safe

They are. The reality is that immunisation is extremely safe, with a very low risk of serious complications or allergic reactions. Incorrect claims about vaccination safety and side effects are unscientific and false.

Let’s look at polio for instance. Since the Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988, 10 billion doses of the vaccine have been sent to over 100 countries to immunise children. Because of the oral polio vaccine, five million children, who would otherwise have been paralysed by the disease, are walking.

Immunisation saves lives and gives children the opportunity to live a healthy life and to reach their full potential. Children who are not immunised face illness, disability and death.    

4. Vaccines aren't necessary

False. They are. Good hygiene, sanitation and nutrition isn’t enough to stop infectious diseases. While good levels of hygiene, health and sanitation are important, many infections can still spread regardless of how clean we are.

If individuals are not vaccinated, diseases that have become uncommon in some areas, such as polio or measles, can quickly reappear.  For example, in the US the number of measles cases increased six-fold between 2017 and 2018, reaching 791 cases.

5. Vaccinated children cause outbreaks

Also false. The lives of an estimated 20 million children have been saved through measles immunisation between 2000 and 2016.

Vaccines don’t cause autism, they aren’t toxic and they don’t cause outbreaks. But they DO work and they DO save lives.

Take our short quiz now to test your knowledge on the five myths we've just debunked.