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Vaccines - Are they safe for my child? | NHS

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Some information on the pros and cons of vaccinating children. What do you think?

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Some information on the pros and cons of vaccinating children. What do you think?

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are now available to children ages 5 and up in the U.S. Here's what parents and kids need to know about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, the possible side effects, and the benefits of getting vaccinated.

If children don't frequently experience severe illness with COVID-19, why do they need a COVID-19 vaccine?

A COVID-19 vaccine can prevent your child from getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

If your child gets COVID-19, a COVID-19 vaccine could prevent him or her from becoming severely ill or experiencing short-term or long-term complications. Children with other health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and asthma, might be at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can also help keep your child in school and more safely have playdates and participate in sports and other group activities.

What COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for kids in the U.S.?

In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are available to children by age group:

Ages 5 through 11. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency use authorization to a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for this age group. This vaccine involves two injections, given three weeks apart. It contains a lower dose than the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine used for people age 12 and older. Research shows that this vaccine is about 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5 through 11.

Ages 12 through 15. The FDA has given emergency use authorization to a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for this age group. This vaccine involves two injections, given three weeks apart. It contains the same dose as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 16 and older. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed. Research has shown that this vaccine is 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 12 through 15.

Ages 16 and older. The FDA has approved a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, now called Comirnaty, for this age group. This vaccine involves two injections, given three weeks apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed. This vaccine is 91% effective in preventing severe illness with COVID-19 in people age 16 and older. Early research also suggests that the vaccine is 96% effective at preventing severe disease with COVID-19 caused by the delta variant, the most common COVID-19 variant in the U.S right now.

How did the FDA determine the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for use in kids?

For kids ages 5 through 11, the FDA reviewed a vaccine study of more than 4,600 children in this age range. Of this group, about 3,100 were given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The other children were given an inactive (placebo) shot. Children who were given the vaccine were monitored for side effects for at least 2 months after the second dose. Side effects were generally mild to moderate.

The FDA also took an early look at cases of COVID-19 that occurred one week after children were given a second dose of the vaccine. None of the children in this analysis had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Among 1,305 children given the vaccine, there were 3 cases of COVID-19. Among 663 children given the placebo, there were 16 cases of COVID-19. The results suggest that the vaccine is about 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 in this age group.

For kids ages 12 through 15, the FDA reviewed a vaccine study of more than 2,200 U.S. children in this age range. Of this group, about half were given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The other children were given a placebo shot.

A week after the second dose was given, there were no cases of COVID-19 in the 1,005 children given the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Among 978 children given the placebo, there were 16 cases of COVID-19. None of the children had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19. The results suggest that the vaccine is 100% effective at preventing COVID-19 in this age group.

What are the side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for kids?

Children given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines had side effects similar to those experienced by people age 16 and older. The most commonly reported side effects include:

Similar to adults, children have side effects within 2 days after vaccination that typically last 1 to 3 days. More children reported these side effects, except for injection site pain, after the second dose of the vaccine. However, some people have no side effects.

After your child is given a COVID-19 vaccine, he or she will be monitored for 15 to 30 minutes to see if he or she has an allergic reaction that requires treatment.

It isn't recommended that you give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever before vaccination to prevent side effects. It's OK to give this kind of medication after your child gets a COVID-19 vaccine.

Can COVID-19 vaccines affect the heart?

In the U.S., there has been an increase in reported cases of myocarditis and pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, particularly in males ages 12 through 17. Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis is the inflammation of the lining outside the heart. These reports are rare. One study suggests that the risk of myocarditis in the week after being fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is about 54 cases per million doses given to males ages 12 to 17.

Of the cases reported, the problem happened more often after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and typically within several days after COVID-19 vaccination. Most of the people who received care quickly felt better after receiving medicine and resting. Symptoms to watch for include:

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart

If you or your child has any of these symptoms within a week of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, seek medical care.

Is there any research on the long-term effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines?

Because COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials only started in the summer of 2020, it's not yet clear if the vaccines will have long-term effects. However, vaccines rarely cause long-term effects.

A portion of the children in each age group were monitored for safety for at least two months after being given the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As part of its first request for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine in 2020, Pfizer Inc. created a safety monitoring plan. The plan now includes the monitoring of children and adolescents given the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition, in the U.S. all vaccination providers are required to report serious adverse events, such as allergic reactions, to a national program called the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

How do the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines work?

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA). Researchers have been studying mRNA vaccines for decades.

Coronaviruses have a spikelike structure on their surface called an S protein. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines give instructions to immune cells for how to make a harmless piece of an S protein. After vaccination, cells begin making the protein pieces and displaying them on cell surfaces. The immune system recognizes the protein and begins building an immune response and making antibodies. After delivering instructions, the mRNA is immediately broken down. It never enters the nucleus of the cell, where DNA is kept.

Is there any difference in the ingredients or dosing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for younger children, older children or adults?

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 contains a lower dose (10 micrograms) than the vaccine used for older children and adults (30 micrograms). Smaller needles are being used to deliver the vaccine to children ages 5 through 11.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 also contains a different buffer than the vaccine used for older children and adults. This different buffer, which is used in other FDA-approved vaccines, will help keep the vaccine stable in refrigerated temperatures for longer.

The ingredients and dosing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are the same for children ages 12 through 15 and people age 16 and older.

Are there any children who shouldn't get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

This vaccine is not yet available to children younger than age 5. Clinical trials involving younger children are in progress.

The vaccine also shouldn't be given to a child with a known history of a severe allergic reaction to any of its ingredients. If this is the case, your child might be able to get another COVID-19 vaccine in the future.

Can a COVID-19 vaccine give a child COVID-19?

No. The COVID-19 vaccines currently being developed in the U.S. don't use the live virus that causes COVID-19.

Can a COVID-19 vaccine affect fertility or menstruation?

There is no evidence that any COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems.

A small number of women have reported experiencing temporary menstrual changes after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. A small study has also shown that some women experienced temporary menstrual changes after getting COVID-19. It's not clear if getting COVID-19 or a COVID-19 vaccine causes these changes. Further research is needed.

Keep in mind that many things can affect menstrual cycles, including infections, stress, sleep problems and changes in diet or exercise.

Can children who get COVID-19 experience long-term effects?

Anyone who has had COVID-19 can develop a post- COVID-19 condition. Research suggests that children with both mild and severe COVID-19 have experienced long-term symptoms. The most common symptoms in children include:

Tiredness or fatigue

Headache

Trouble sleeping

Trouble concentrating

Muscle and joint pain

Cough

These symptoms could affect your child's ability to attend school or do his or her usual activities. If your child is experiencing long-term symptoms, consider talking to your child's teachers about his or her needs.

How can children get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Consult your local health department, pharmacy or your child's doctor for information on where your child can get a COVID-19 vaccine. When making an appointment for your child to get a COVID-19 vaccine, consider asking these questions:

Does a parent or guardian need to be present at the appointment?

What information will need to be provided during the appointment?

Is there a limit on how many family members, such as siblings, can attend the appointment?

How soon can a child get a COVID-19 vaccine before or after getting another vaccine?

A COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines can be given on the same day.

Previously, due to the newness of COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC had recommended against getting any other vaccines two weeks before and after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC changed its recommendation based on safety data gathered in recent months.

Remember, COVID-19 vaccination will protect most people from getting sick with COVID-19. If you have questions or concerns about your child getting a COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your child's doctor. He or she might be able to help you weigh the risks and benefits.

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COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are now available to children ages 5 and up in the U.S. Here's what parents and kids need to know about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, the possible side effects, and the benefits of getting vaccinated.

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This is a very biased website so should be read with caution, but it does outline why people don't vaccinate.

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My suspicion of vaccines arose in 1991 when at the tender age of 13, I received a BCG shot and was handed a blue card AFTER the event, detailing side-effects. I might have been a child, but I was angry and knew that I had the right to have seen that information BEFORE.

However, I put the experience to the back of my mind. I thought the theory of 'immunisation' was strange (how can one achieve wellness by injecting themselves with germs? - even as a young child with no interest or knowledge of medicine I knew instinctively that in order to be healthy you need a clean internal system and if you introduce bacteria and viruses into the body you will disrupt the vital force, the healthy functioning of the natural immune system. It seemed to me even as a child that to breech the skin to place foreign particles into the body was fundamentally wrong because the skin is part of the immune system, it's a barrier to infection and by breaking that barrier you are breaking one of your immune defences - this seemed obvious to me at 13 and I couldn't understand why more adults didn't question it), but I still thought that they must be reasonably 'okay' because the doctors said so and I didn't believe that doctors would give a treatment that could potentially harm.

I later learned that most doctors are fully aware that vaccines can cause brain damage and even death in some cases (as the CDC admit in their vaccine information statements) but all doctors will leave out this information when discussing vaccines with parents and not show them the manufacturer's data information.

I came from a conservative family and was told doctors were experts who knew what they were doing. My mother was a nurse and followed the doctor's word to the letter.

She thought nothing of dolling out the Calpol (Tylenol) for every sniffle we had, and growing up, I hadn't even heard of alternative therapy. The doctor's had saved my life with their high-tech neonatal intensive care unit when I was born 3 months early, so why shouldn't I believe what they had to say about vaccination?

I am disabled from a brain injury brought about by premature birth and in my childhood was a regular visitor to hospitals. I had surgeries during this time and was present in the room for the surgeons 'risks and benefits' speech on the particular surgery I was to have. I quickly learned that no medicine is risk free and that to be informed, you need to know both sides of the argument. I knew from being a tiny tot and listening to the conversations between my mother and the doctors.

So when I became pregnant, I knew I should have the same degree of caution with my baby's healthcare. When you're pregnant they tell you not to drink alcohol, don't take aspirin or other drugs, only one paracetamol is safe 'if you're absolutely desperate', and when your little miracle arrives you must check medicine labels carefully. In fact, most medicines aren't suitable for infants under 3 months of age and just recently, the FDA in America has said that cough and cold medicines should not be used in children under 3 because of deaths associated with it.

It seemed perfectly natural, and reasonable therefore to CHECK THE LABELS of vaccinations. This was my daughter, my precious creation and the centre of my universe. I could not allow doctor's to inject her with something if I had no idea what it was. Okay, so I know it's a vaccine, but what was in the vaccine? I wasn't prepared for them to put any old rubbish into my perfect baby, no matter what their arguments for 'preventative health' were.

I didn't want to be sitting in clinic with her, getting pressured into it with zero balanced information like so many new mothers are, so I decided to find out what exactly a vaccine was while I was still pregnant. That would give me plenty of time to decide. I am also vegetarian so my thought was at the time that I could get the doctor to order me in an animal free vaccine, if necessary. I was young and.

I read a booklet on vaccinations that stated the DPT vaccine had originally been cultured using horses urine. There were also things about monkey kidneys and aluminium and mercury. I have to say, I didn't believe a word of it. It resembled a science fiction novel.

My husband felt the same, and in fact, wanted to vaccinate our baby. He was particularly worried about tetanus and polio and he'd got his tetanus shot right in front of me when we first moved in together. I told him to hang on. Let me look into this first, and if you still want to vaccinate her by the time she is one year old, I'll agree.
He said okay, he'd give us time to research.

Not believing the alternative therapy booklet about vaccines, I went to what I thought was a reputable source - a pharmacy. I asked the pharmacist if he'd kindly photocopy me all the data sheets on the vaccines my child was due to have and some other ones just for interest. He did so immediately.

There in black and white print for all to see was aluminium, mercury, bovine brain serum, monkey kidney's, mouse brain, formaldehyde, human foetal medium (I nearly vomited) and a host of other nasties resembling a witches cauldron.

As well as this, and probably even more importantly, was a list of side-effects from vaccination as thick as a tree trunk, including the phrase 'SIDS has occurred following the administration of DPT'.

Still in shock, I telephoned Aventis Pasteur and some other vaccine manufacturer's and asked them to fax me details of what their vaccines were cultured on as well as any excipients not included in the ingredients. They did so. Pig's blood was listed on one of the faxes.

That on it's own was enough to make us decide that we weren't going to vaccinate our daughter. At that early stage in my parenting life I still believed that vaccines prevented diseases, but I wouldn't inject those ingredients into a dog, never mind my baby, so I decided to take my chance with the diseases.

I wasn't remotely alternative. I thought home birth was for hippies, I'd never heard of homeopathy and I had no qualms at that time about having my baby in a hospital. My first experience of anything alternative was when my midwife suggested using lavender oil to heal painful stitches, and no, I'd not heard of lavender oil either. My journey into the vaccination world was almost by accident.

In my young mind I thought we could just refuse the jabs, like any other medical treatment, and go about our lives. I didn't realise that to question vaccines is to question orthodox medicine, an unspoken no no.

Instead, we were instantly struck off the doctor's list, with a letter stating 'you are refusing to comply with our efforts for preventative medicine.'

And

'You seem to want healthcare purely on your terms.'

HELLO!? This was my body and my baby's body! Why should it not be on our terms? We owned our own personage, after all.

I was annoyed, but let it go. We found another doctor, but that didn't last. On the first consultation he said 'if you don't vaccinate your baby, I'm going to remove you from this practice.'

I pointed out to him all the disgusting ingredients in jabs and he denied it, saying, 'Oh, I'm sure they don't have those things in them.'
So I showed him the data sheet to prove it. I questioned him about brain damage and vaccinations. He said, 'Oh, that's only a one in a million chance.' Excuse me, but when it came to my baby, even a one in a million figure was too much. What if she was that one? (I later learned it was actually 1/1750). I knew that illness sometimes caused brain damage, and that's tragic, but at least that was nature. If it happened because of a vaccine - something I did - then that was tantamount to murder. I told him so. He wasn't impressed.

A week later we got another letter saying we'd been struck off again. We searched for another GP, but no one would have us because they knew we were the couple who didn't vaccinate, so the local authority has to assign us a practice. That didn't last either.

The new GP yelled abuse at us every time we saw him, told us our baby was going to die of whooping cough, accused us of being selfish and irresponsible and jeered at me when I told him vaccination was a choice.

We were struck off a third time, and by now my teenage brain was boiling over with rage. I would not to strapped down to a table and forcibly operated on, so why should I be forced to vaccinate when we are supposed to have freedom of choice?

I went to the newspapers, the radio, the TV. A large camera crew parked up outside the surgery, and we were suddenly and unwittingly all over the news. People saw the programme and starting writing to me to ask for photocopies of the information I had collected when researching for my daughter, and before I knew it, I was a 19 year old with a national organisation.

We continued our research and I found hundreds of medical articles in peer reviewed journals, stating horrific side-effects from vaccines, diseases in vaccinated populations, crib deaths and the opposite of everything I had previously believed about vaccination. The thing that made it so powerful was that it came from medical orthodoxy, from their own journals, and they were the ones advocating vaccines.

By the time my daughter was a year old, my husband told me that if I ever vaccinated her, he would divorce me 🙂

Over the past 15 years I have carried on researching and providing articles for parents because I feel that everyone should be able to make an informed choice, and it isn't informed if you only have half the information.

I went on to have another four unvaccinated babies and my knowledge in alternative health, natural birthing and parenting also grew, and I have put this website online purely as one mum to another, in the hope that it will assist someone.

Joanna.

Medical Citations for This Page

1. Pertussis toxin is required for pertussis vaccine encephalopathy, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Vol. 82, pp. 8733-8736, December 1985. http://www.pnas.org/content/82/24/8733.full.pdf

A mouse model for encephalopathy induced
by pertussis immunization has been described; it has features that closely resemble some of the severe reactions, including seizures and a shock-like state leading to death, occasionally seen after administration of Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.

The pertussis vaccine component of diphtheria-pertussis- tetanus (DPT) vaccine is associated with convulsions in one of 1750 doses (1), while severe and permanent neurologic damage has been calculated to occur with one of every 310,000 doses.

VAN UK's Comment: Seizures after vaccination can lead to shock and death. They occurred 1 in every 1,750 doses and are indicative of brain irritation. Permanent brain damage occurs between 1 in every 310,000 doses (kids have more than 1 dose).

As US infants got 5 DPT shots, this translates to a 1 in 62000 risk of permanent brain damage.

Hypotonic-Hyporesponsive Episodes Reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), 1996-1998, Pediatrics Vol. 106 No. 4 October 1, 2000, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/106/4/e52.abstract

'A hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode (HHE) is the sudden onset of hypotonia, hyporesponsiveness, and pallor or cyanosis that occurs within 48 hours after childhood immunizations. This syndrome has been primarily associated with pertussis-containing vaccines administered to children.'

Another study found that permanent, severe brain damage occurred after DPT vaccination in one in every 50,000 children, a figure even greater than one in 310,000.

The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health wrote:

'From a file of 1127 children in whom signs of brain damage were reported after injections of vaccines containing pertussis antigen, the first 197 cases with good documentation of events were chosen for further study. In these children, 291 reactions had been reported, usually of screaming attacks (68), convulsions (87), collapse (17), or one or more of these signs (99), within 24 hours of injection. Subsequently 165 children became mentally defective and 102 had further convulsions. In 129 (65%), contraindications to vaccination were present ab initio and in 25, subsequent injections were given despite reactions to a previous injection or injections.

From a mathematical model constructed from data in published reports, it is calculated that the frequency of convulsions appears to be higher by 2: 1 in vaccinated than in unvaccinated infants. In children subject to febrile or other convulsions, the frequencies may be of the same order but a second convulsion occurring only after a second or subsequent injection of vaccine is unlikely to be due to chance.

The pattern of reactions and sequence of events observed in the present study and in published reports suggest an association between certain reactions to pertussis vaccine and subsequent severe brain damage, the incidence of which appears to be not less than one per fifty thousand children vaccinated during the last 20 years of mass vaccination in the United Kingdom.'

(J Epidemiol Community Health. 33 (2) : 150-156 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1051941/).

WHO Information on Rates of Collapse after DPT Vaccine

www.who.int/vaccines-documents/DocsPDF05/815.pdf

Collapse(hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode)- 1/1,750 doses.

Convulsions(with or without fever)-1/1,750 doses.

They also say in this document that persistent, inconsolable crying occurred 1 in every 100 doses. This type of crying is indicative of cerebral irritation.

This link is a bit strange because on firefox internet server it goes to the information I described but on Microsoft internet explorer it goes to an updated page that doesn't contain this information. If this happens to you, go to this WHO document: http://www.who.int/immunization_safety/publications/aefi/en/AEFI_WPRO.pdf

The above document also says that persistent inconsolable screaming (cri-encephalique) can occur in up to 1 in 15 doses, seizures in 1 in 1750 doses, collapse in 1 in 1000 doses, anaphylaxis in 1 in every 50,000 doses.

VACCINATION AGAINST WHOOPING-COUGH : Efficacy versus Risks

The Lancet, Volume 309, Issue 8005, 29 January 1977, Pages 234-237.

alculations based on the mortality of whooping-cough before 1957 predict accurately the subsequent decline and the present low mortality. Notifications of incidence, though variable and incomplete, follow the same pattern of steady decline in the United Kingdom and are unaffected either by small-scale vaccination beginning about 1948 or by nationwide vaccination beginning in 1957. When valid comparisons can be made, attack-rates may be lower and complications fewer in vaccinated children, but allowance has to be made for overcrowding and socioeconomic differences which may be more important as determinants of attack-rates. No protection by vaccination is demonstrable in infants. Adverse reactions and neurotoxicity following vaccinations were studied in 160 cases. In 79, the relationship to pertussis vaccine was strong. In 14 of these cases, reaction was transient but characteristic of a syndrome of shock and cerebral disturbance, which, in the other 65 cases, was followed by convulsions, hyperkinesis, and severe mental defect. It seems likely that most adverse reactions are unreported and that many are overlooked. Precise information about the efficacy and safety of this vaccine is lacking, because existing provisions, national and international, for epidemiological surveillance and evaluation are inadequate. The claim by official bodies that the risks of whooping-cough exceed those of vaccination is questionable, at least in the U.K.

VAN UK's Comment: Note here Professor Stewart says seizures are sometimes followed by permanent mental damage.

CDC Pink Book Disgusting Vaccine Ingredients

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf

Here is a link from the CDC about many of the disgusting ingredients that go into vaccines.

DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit)
Aluminum Potassium Sulfate, Ammonium Sulfate, Bovine Extract, Formaldehyde or Formalin, Gelatin, Polysorbate 80, Sucrose, Thimerosal.

Those are only the 'inactive' ingredients and discludes the viruses, bacteria etc.

The whole cell DPT that I was expected to give my daughter also contained the full amount of thimerosal that has since been deemed unsafe. Here are the main ingredients from old style DPT vaccine data (excipients not listed on it, so it would have had other things in it too):

Each 0.5 mL dose contains: diphtheria toxoid (25 Lf), tetanus toxoid (5 Lf), pertussis vaccine (4 to 12 Protective Units) (P.U.) and aluminum phosphate 1.5 mg. Thimerosal 0.01% is added as a preservative. Multidose rubber stoppered vials of 5 mL and single dose glass ampuls of 0.5 mL.

(http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20%28General%20Monographs-%20D%29/Diphtheria%20and%20Tetanus%20Toxoids%20Adsorbed%20and%20Pertussis%20Vaccine.html).

Mouse Brains in Vaccines

Extract from report of GACVS meeting of 9-10 June 2005, published in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record on 15 July 2005.

The Committee considered the decision taken by the Government of Japan on 30 May 2005 to suspend routine vaccination with the mouse brain-derived Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine currently used in Japan.1 This decision followed a review by the Japanese national advisory committee on vaccine adverse events of a single case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following JE vaccination and the national committee's conclusion that it could not rule out a causal link with the vaccine.

http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/topics/japanese_encephalitis/mouse_brain_derived/June_2005/en/index.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2480778/?page=1

Aborted Human Baby to Make Vaccines

http://www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/20968/SPC/MMRVAXPRO/#COMPOSITION

These are the ingredients of MMR. Trace amounts of fetal cells will remain in the vaccine as it isn't possible to remove them when harvesting the viruses:

After reconstitution, one dose (0.5 ml) contains:

Measles virus1 Enders' Edmonston strain (live, attenuated) ..........not less than 1×103 CCID50*

Mumps virus1 Jeryl Lynn™ [Level B] strain (live, attenuated).........not less than 12.5×103 CCID50*

Rubella virus2 Wistar RA 27/3 strain (live, attenuated) ......................not less than 1×103 CCID50*

*50% cell culture infectious dose

1 produced in chick embryo cells.

2 produced in WI-38 human diploid lung fibroblasts.

The vaccine may contain traces of recombinant human albumin (rHA).

This vaccine contains a trace amount of neomycin.

And They're Still Using Foetal Tissue........

Dev Biol (Basel). 2006;123:251-63; discussion 265-6.

Tumorigenicity assessments of Per.C6 cells and of an Ad5-vectored HIV-1 vaccine produced on this continuous cell line.

PER.C6, a cell line derived from human embryonic retinal cells transformed with the Adenovirus Type 5 (Ad5) E1A and E1B genes, is used to produce E1-deleted Ad5 vectors such as the MRKAd5 HIV-1 gag vaccine. While whole, live PER.C6 cells are capable of growing as tumours when transplanted subcutaneously into immunodeficient nude mice at a high dosage, the process for vaccine production includes filtration steps and other methods which effectively preclude contamination by intact viable substrate cells. However, because of the neoplastic nature of this cell line, we carried out a series of investigations to assess the tumorigenic risk posed by residuals from the cell substrate in a vaccine. To address concerns about transmission of oncogenic DNA, we demonstrated that purified PER.C6 cellular DNA does not induce tumours in newborn hamsters or nude mice. To address concerns about other potential residuals, including hypothetical adventitious tumour viruses, we demonstrated that a PER.C6 cell lysate and a MRKAd5 HIV-1 gag vaccine produced on PER.C6 cells do not induce tumours in newborn hamsters or newborn rats. These results, in conjunction with the wide panel of viral safety tests performed on these cells, support the safety of the PER.C6 as a cell substrate for vaccine production.

Company Advertising Use of Aborted Baby for Vaccines

http://www.crucell.com/Technology%20-%20Cell%20Technology

PER.C6® technology is a comprehensive package of tools designed to facilitate the large-scale production of safe and affordable biopharmaceutical products, such as vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and gene therapy products.

This technology offers major advantages over other platforms used for manufacturing biological products and is uniquely positioned to meet the key challenges in the industry. These include the need to produce larger volumes of product more quickly and cost-effectively, while meeting increasingly stringent safety requirements.

The heart of PER.C6® technology is the PER.C6® human cell line. This is a continuously dividing set of cells derived from a single human cell, immortalized using recombinant DNA technology.

http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/77/8/925.pdf

Reports of severe neurologic damage and death associated with the administration of DTP date back many years.2 To most physicians during the early years of pertussis vaccine these reported events were probably deemed to be a small price to pay for protection from a disease of high mortality and morbidity. Only as the disease has nearly disappeared in the United States and other developed countries,largely because of the vaccine, have these untoward reactions loomed larger in importance.
The occasional untoward events temporally associated with DTP that have been of greatest concern are acute encephalopathy with permanent brain damage and the suddeninfant death syndrome (SIDS).3

VAN UK's Comment: Losing my child isn't an acceptable price to pay. Child sacrifice should have died out along with gladiating and religious sacrifice.

Possible temporal association between diphtheria-tetanus toxoid-pertussis vaccination and sudden infant death syndrome.

Pediatr Infect Dis. 1983 Jan-Feb;2(1):7-11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6835859

Because diphtheria and tetanus toxoids pertussis (DTP) vaccine is routinely given during the period of highest incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), this study was undertaken to determine if there is a temporal association between DTP immunization and SIDS. Parents of 145 SIDS victims who died in Los Angeles County between January 1, 1979, and August 23, 1980, were contacted and interviewed regarding their child's recent immunization history. Fifty-three had received a DTP immunization. Of these 53, 27 had received a DTP immunization within 28 days of death. Six SIDS deaths occurred within 24 hours and 17 occurred within 1 week of DTP immunization. These SIDS deaths were significantly more than expected were there no association between DTP immunization and SIDS. An additional 46 infants had a physician/clinic visit without DTP immunization prior to death. Forty of these infants died within 28 days of this visit, seven on the third day and 22 within the first week following the visit. These deaths were also significantly more than expected. These data suggest a temporal association between DTP immunization, physician visits without DTP immunization and SIDS.

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed and Pertussis Vaccine (DPT Adsorbed)

http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20%28General%20Monographs-%20D%29/Diphtheria%20and%20Tetanus%20Toxoids%20Adsorbed%20and%20Pertussis%20Vaccine.html

Persistent, inconsolable crying lasting 3 or more hours (1%) and high-pitched, unusual screaming (0.1%) have also been reported after DPT vaccination. Convulsions and a hypotonic-hyporesponsive state have each been reported to occur at a frequency of about 1:1 750 injections of DPT.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been reported in temporal relationship to the administration of vaccines containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DPT).

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/414768_2

We examined the family of a 4-month-old infant who died of pertussis in Israel, as well as children at two day-care centers that two siblings had attended during the infant's illness. The two siblings, ages 2 and 5 years, attended different day-care centers, for ages 2-3 years and 5-6 years, respectively. Both siblings continued to attend the centers despite paroxysmal cough for 4 to 5 weeks. Thirty other children attended the day-care center for the 2- to 3-year-old group. Sixteen other children attended the center for the 5- to 6-year-old group.

In the infant's family, a third sibling, age 11 years, also had a paroxysmal cough of 4 to 5 weeks duration. The 35-year-old mother had a 3-month history of persistent cough. An 18-year-old aunt, who took care of the infant and lived in the same house, reported a mild respiratory illness without paroxysmal cough.

All the children in the day-care centers had been immunized in infancy with all four doses of Pasteur diphtheria-tetanus toxoid pertussis (DTP) vaccine, which includes a booster dose at 12 months of age. The Pasteur vaccine contains 1 immunization dose (ID) of purified diphtheria toxoid, 1 ID of purified tetanus toxoid, and >4 IU of B. pertussis. All family members of the infant were also fully vaccinated with four doses of DTP. The infant had received only the first dose of vaccine at 2 months of age.

Vaccinated Children Reservoirs of Infection

Emerg Infect Dis. 2000 Sep-Oct; 6(5): 526-529. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2627963/

We tested 46 fully vaccinated children in two day-care centers in Israel who were exposed to a fatal case of pertussis infection. Only two of five children who tested positive for Bordetella pertussis met the World Health Organization's case definition for pertussis. Vaccinated children may be asymptomatic reservoirs for infection.

Clinical presentation of pertussis in fully immunized children in Lithuania

BMC Infectious Diseases 2005, 5:40. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/5/40

In Lithuania, the vaccination coverage against pertussis is high. Nevertheless, there is a significant increase in pertussis cases in fully immunized children. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of classical symptoms of laboratory confirmed pertussis and describe its epidemiology in children fully vaccinated against pertussis.

A total of 53 (75.7%) of the 70 recruited patients with prolonged cough showed laboratory evidence of pertussis. 32 of them were fully vaccinated with whole cell pertussis vaccine (DTP). The age of fully vaccinated patients varied from 4 to 15 years (average 10.9 ± 3.1; median 11).

Outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis in Oman: evidence for widespread transmission among fully vaccinated children.

Lancet. 1991 Sep 21;338(8769):715-20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1679866

From January, 1988, to March, 1989, a widespread outbreak (118 cases) of poliomyelitis type 1 occurred in Oman. Incidence of paralytic disease was highest in children younger than 2 years (87/100,000) despite an immunisation programme that recently had raised coverage with 3 doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) among 12-month-old children from 67% to 87%. We did a case-control study (70 case-patients, 692 age-matched controls) to estimate the clinical efficacy of OPV, assessed the immunogenicity of OPV and extent of poliovirus spread by serology, retrospectively evaluated the cold chain and vaccine potency, and sought the origin of the outbreak strain by genomic sequencing. 3 doses of OPV reduced the risk of paralysis by 91%; vaccine failures could not be explained by failures in the cold chain nor on suboptimum vaccine potency. Cases and controls had virtually identical type 1 neutralising antibody profiles, suggesting that poliovirus type 1 circulation was widespread. Genomic sequencing indicated that the outbreak strain had been recently imported from South Asia and was distinguishable from isolates indigenous to the Middle East. Accumulation of enough children to sustain the outbreak seems to have been due to previous success of the immunisation programme in reducing spread of endemic strains, suboptimum efficacy of OPV, and delay in completing the primary immunisation series until 7 months of age. Additionally, the estimated attack rate of infection among children aged 9-23 months exceeded 25% in some regions, suggesting that a substantial proportion of fully vaccinated children had been involved in the chain of transmission.

For more cases of diseases in the vaccinated see:

http://vaccineriskawareness.com/Diseases-In-The-Vaccinated
Here are Jacinta's Illnesses in her whole life so far
Gastrointestinal bug at 6 months of age due to bottle feeding (infected episiotomy nearly killed me so I did not feed her myself) - this was the first time she was ill. SHE HAD NO ILLNESSES IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE.

Ear infection at exactly 2 years old - again, lack of breast milk.

Measles (that doctor refused to report, from MMR shedding of another child), aged 15 months.

Ear infection - aged 3 years, again lack of breast milk.

Chickenpox - didn't even feel ill, aged 4 years.

The odd headache and/or snuffles over the years. She hardly ever gets colds or illness but when she does, her symptom appears to be headache. When others in the house have had flu etc, all she has is tiredness and headache.

Gastrointestinal bug - aged about 7 years.

Fractured elbow - aged 8, jumped over a seesaw and landed wrongly.

Gets migraine after drinking percolated coffee - aged 20. Goes away when she avoids coffee and gets more sleep.

That's it, in 20 years. My other children who all had breast milk had NOT EVEN ONE EAR INFECTION between them, in 19 years. I don't believe that's a coincidence.
My Illnesses (Jacinta's VACCINATED mother) - I had whole cell DPT now deemed unsafe, oral polio vaccine now deemed unsafe, single measles vaccine now deemed ineffective and BCG now deemed useless)
Cerebral palsy (would have got it anyway being 3 months early but vaccines wouldn't have helped the situation).

Repeated ear infections and fungal foot infections throughout early childhood.

Viral meningitis - aged 4 (after pre-school boosters).

Regular chest infections and stomach bugs.

Migraine from age 11

Collapse - age 11 (don't know if I fainted or had a seizure or what but I got a terrible pain in the back of my head, followed by total loss of consciousness, vision and hearing. All I could hear was 'radio interference'. I had no awareness of who I was during this episode. My mother said my eyes rolled to the back of my head and I was shaking the table but I have no memory of this. I then had 3 months off school, bed ridden most of the time because of fainting and dizzy spells).

Chronic vulvodynia (nerve damage to vulva, abnormal pain signals) - age 12 to the present day.

Chronic, Permanent Thrush that Cannot be Cured - age 12 to present. I test positive for thrush in 50% of my swabs, have symptoms permanently except when using clotrimaole or tea tree. As soon as I cease treatment, infection returns.

Hyperacusis, unexplained fevers, temporary deafness for 2 days, changes in brain neurons (reaction to BCG) - age 14 (hyperacusis is part of ASD and is why autistic people don't like noise). Before the jab I never had any ASD or any problem with hearing. 90% cured at age 25, but still have residual problems.

Chest pains - aged 23 to the present.

Osteoarthritis - aged 32 (I don't attribute this one to vaccines, it's a side-effect of cerebral palsy).

Occipital neuralgia, constant daily headache - aged 33 to present.

Severe dental illnesses - for the past 15 years or so, normally not common till after 40's.

Unexplained peripheral neuropathy in hands, arms and feet - aged 34.

Fluctuating blood pressure - aged 34.

Irregular heart beat - aged 34.

Repeated Miscarriages - aged 21 to age 38 (lost four babies).

Chronic stomach pain and bowel issues - aged 35 to present.

Right Cataract - age 36. Lost my vision in the right eye by age 39, legally blind in that eye.

Uveitis that was resistant to treatment - age 37.

Spontaneous Bruising Without Known Cause - age 36 to present

Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (antibodies against myself) - Age 38 to present.

Low Complement Cells (cells that make up the immune system) - age 39.

Cataract in left eye - age 39 - will go blind without surgery.

I may have a pre-existing condition but someone as young as me should not have all that wrong with them. I feel that I never regained what was left of my health after the BCG as a teenager and have struggled with daily pain and chronic ill health every day since.

I am on the following medications for my illnesses: propranolol (beta blocker), clotrimazole, yearly steroid injections and ocassional paracetamol (acetaminophen) and codeine combined when the pain of my constant migraine is too much. I'm also taking the following alternative medications: glucosamine, multi-vitamins, vitamin D and tea tree cream.

I cannot eat bread because the yeast creates uncontrollable thrush symptoms where my skin actually bleeds so I am restricted to yeast-free crackers or rye bread. I cannot drink beer for the same reason.

Wine and coffee are also impossible as it triggers a migraine. Chocolate triggers an immediate sore throat even if I only eat a tiny bit.

I cannot function and am in too much pain without my medications, and that's what vaccination does. It alters your immune system at a young age when you are still neurologically developing and permanently activates the INFLAMMATION response. Inflammation is a proven cause of many dysfunctions including neuropathic pain disorders, heart disease and even depression and cancer. This means that you will regularly need a doctor and drugs for the rest of your life. Like I have.

Who is the healthiest? My unvaccinated daughter or myself who was supposedly given health preserving vaccines? Well, it's certainly NOT me.

Other Stories of Mothers Who Vaccinated and Then Changed Their Mind

For other mum's stories of choosing not to vaccinate, see: http://idontvaccinate.com/PageClass_VaccinationStoryList.aspx

http://guggiedaly.blogspot.com/2011/06/confessions-of-mom-who-vaccinated-her.html

Shane Elison, Chemist, Chose not to Vaccinate His Children

Vaccines are purported to work by triggering the body's natural immunity. By injecting weak or dead infectious agents through our skin, it's believed that the body will create the appropriate immune defense. They are even called "immunizations."

And while this idea is over two hundred years old, it's not nearly as effective as the pharmaceutical companies, doctors and government agencies want you to believe.

At best, vaccines boost our defenses only temporarily. That's because your immune system is programmed to recognize and attack invaders that come through the biological "front door." That would be your nose, mouth and eyes. It doesn't work properly when we shove infection into our body with a needle.

The World Health Organization (WHO) underscored this fact in their report titled, Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals. They wrote that, "Children under two years of age do not consistently develop immunity following vaccination." Therefore, vaccines can fly "below the radar" of our immune system.

Not only does this weaken the immune system, it renders many vaccines ineffective - More of Shane's reasons why he didn't vaccinate his children are here:

http://thepeopleschemist.com/reasons-dont-vaccinate-children-vaccine-supporters-shouldnt-give-shit/

Another mum's reasons for not vaccinating:

Here is a brief summary of the reasons why we don't vaccinate:

2. Vaccines haven't been as thoroughly and rigorously tested for safety as doctors would like you to believe. Most are tested only against previously licensed vaccines, and the entire schedule has never been tested. This safety data is not enough for me.

3. We believe the system functions better if it is allowed to develop naturally, through acute illnesses, breastfeeding, etc. We believe this is God's design.

4. There is currently no accepted explanation for the explosion in autism, allergies, asthma, ADHD, diabetes, etc. We believe that vaccines do play a role, even though there are other factors.

5. We would rather take our chances with the diseases (and we have studied how best to treat them) than vaccines.

Those are our reasons. In the future, I'll post my full argument, which includes lots of sources. Please read and research for yourselves. This is meant only to present our choice.

Letter to the editor: Why we chose to not vaccinate

To the editor: There are many decisions we must make when we become parents. Vaccinations are one of them. We must decide which, if any, our children will receive. Many parents are under the impression that their child must receive them as their pediatrician dictates. In Maine, vaccinations are not mandatory. You have the right to refuse them on the basis of religious, medical, or philosophical exemptions. I am a parent who has chosen to refuse all vaccinations based on philosophical exemptions. That is what I will address in this letter.

There are many reasons for not vaccinating a child. Autism is not always the fear that drives that decision. It has much more to do with the fear of other things than it has to do with autism. Many physicians believe that the benefits outweigh the risk. Vaccinations are not 100 percent risk free nor are they 100 percent effective. Some can even cause the disease they are suppose to prevent. This can happen because some vaccines "shed" infecting anyone close to the recently vaccinated. The non-vaccinated are often to blame for this.

Please start by asking your child's pediatrician for the full vaccine insert (not the simple little information sheet they hand out). You need to read about the possible side effects and research the ingredients in the vaccine being given. Some of the reactions include death, allergies, asthma, auto immune diseases, seizures, paralysis, and brain inflammation. These are just some of the documented side effects but there are many, many more. It's often the case that if your child suffers from any of these adverse reactions their physician will not trace it back to the vaccination. Say if a child is not developmentally ready to speak when the vaccine is given, six or seven months down the road when it's typical for a child to start talking and doesn't their physician may not link it to the vaccine even when you know in your heart that's the cause.

Are you aware of what is actually in the vaccinations? This is a list provided by the CDC itself: formaldehyde, Vero (monkey kidney) cells, FD&C Yellow No. 6 aluminum lake dye, and MRC-5 (human diploid) cells. Do you know what that last one is? It's cells taken from an aborted fetus. The Influenza vaccine still contains thimerosal (mercury). The entire list sorted by vaccine can be found in a link provided below. You can never unvaccinate. Once the damage is done it often can not be undone.

The risks of vaccinations are understated and underrated. Please do your due diligence for the sake of your child. Simple research on the following websites are suggested if you are questioning which, if any, vaccinations you want your child to receive. Please keep in mind that some of the side effects are rare. What if your child is one of the rare cases? Is that a chance you want to take? Also research the natural treatments for measles, mumps, and any of the other diseases.

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My suspicion of vaccines arose in 1991 when at the tender age of 13, I received a BCG shot and was handed a blue card AFTER the event, detailing side-effects. I might have been a child, but I was angry and knew that I had the right to have seen that information BEFORE.

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This is an American site but should be useful.

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Vaccines have contributed to a significant reduction in many childhood infectious diseases, such as diphtheria, measles, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Some infectious diseases, such as polio have been eliminated in the United States due to effective vaccines. With high vaccination rates, it is now rare for children in the United States to experience the devastating and often deadly effects of some infectious diseases that were once common in the United States and other countries.

Vaccines to prevent infectious diseases are given to millions of babies, children, adolescents and adults and it is critical that they are demonstrated to be safe and effective. Ensuring the safety and effectiveness of vaccines is one of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) top priorities. The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is the center within FDA that has regulatory oversight of vaccines in the United States assuring the availability of safe and effective vaccines.

Because immunization programs of the 20th and 21st century have been so successful, many of today's parents have never seen many vaccine-preventable diseases and do not understand the potential for them to re-emerge. If too many individuals choose not to vaccinate themselves or their children, some diseases that are now rare or non-existent in this country may resurface.

The viruses and bacteria that cause vaccine-preventable diseases and death still exist and can cause disease in people who are not protected by vaccines. For example, although measles has not been constantly present in the United States since 2000 and was declared eliminated in the U.S. that year, cases and outbreaks continue to occur. This is attributed to various factors, including the common occurrence of measles in many parts of the world, unvaccinated travelers with measles who are bringing the disease into the United States from other countries, and the spread of measles in communities in the U.S. where groups of people are unvaccinated. The U.S. closed out 2018 with a total of 17 outbreaks of measles and cases have continued to occur in 2019. 2019 marks greatest number of reported measles cases in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. Of those diagnosed with measles, approximately 10% required hospitalization. The majority of the cases are among people who were not vaccinated against measles.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can cause severe complications, including pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and death. Outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as measles, serve as a reminder that they are only a plane-ride away and the best way not to get sick is to get vaccinated.

Benefits and Risks

A vaccine is a medication. Like any medicine, vaccines have benefits and risks, and although highly effective, no vaccine is 100 percent effective in preventing disease or 100 percent safe in all individuals. Most side effects of vaccines are usually minor and short-lived. For example, a person may feel soreness at the injection site or experience a mild fever. Serious vaccine reactions are extremely rare, but they can happen.

"Parents should know that the risk of being harmed by a vaccine is significantly smaller than the risk of serious illness from infectious diseases," says Marion Gruber, Ph.D., director of the Office of Vaccines Research and Review in CBER. "Vaccination is a very important step to get children off to a healthy start."

For more information on potential adverse reactions, talk with your healthcare provider, and some vaccines also have FDA-approved labeling for the patient that can be a resource of information. It is important to discuss with your healthcare provider any prior reactions to vaccines and any adverse reactions following vaccination.

Types of Routinely Administered Vaccines for Children
How vaccines work
Vaccines work by preparing the body's immune system for future exposure to disease-causing viruses or bacteria. Vaccines contain antigens, which are weakened bacteria or viruses, or parts of bacteria or viruses, which mimic the disease-causing agents. As a result of vaccination, the body's immune system thinks the antigens from the vaccine are foreign and shouldn't be in the body, but the antigens don't cause disease in the person receiving the vaccine. After receiving the vaccine, if the virus or bacteria that cause the real disease then enters the body in the future, the immune system is prepared and responds quickly and forcefully to attack the disease-causing agent to prevent the person from getting sick with the disease. Vaccines are frequently given by injection (a shot), but some are given by mouth and one is sprayed into the nose.
There are various types of vaccines that are routinely given to children
Attenuated (weakened) live viruses- These vaccines contain a live virus that has been weakened during the manufacturing process so that they do not cause the actual disease in the person being vaccinated. However, because they contain a small amount of the weakened live virus, people with weakened immune systems should talk to their healthcare provider before receiving them. Examples include vaccines that prevent chickenpox and rotavirus and measles, mumps and rubella.

Inactivated (killed) viruses- These vaccines contain a virus that has been killed so as not to cause disease, but the body still recognizes it and stimulates production of antibodies against the virus. They can be given to individuals with weakened immune systems. Examples include vaccines to prevent polio and hepatitis A.

Subunits- In some cases, the entire virus or bacteria is not required for an immune response to prevent disease; just the important parts, a portion or a "subunit" of the disease-causing bacteria or virus is needed to provide protection. The vaccine to prevent influenza (the flu) that is given as a shot is an example of a subunit vaccine, because it is made with parts of the influenza virus.

Toxoids- Some bacteria cause illness in people by secreting a poison (a toxin). Scientists discovered that weakening the toxins, so that they are "detoxified" does not cause illness. Examples of vaccines that contain toxoids include those to prevent tetanus and diphtheria disease.

Recombinant- These vaccines are made by genetic engineering, the process and method of manipulating the genetic material of an organism. An example of this type of vaccine is those that prevent certain diseases caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), such as cervical cancer. In this case, the genes that code for a specific protein from each of the virus types of HPV included in the vaccine are expressed in yeast to create large quantities of the protein. The protein that is produced is purified and then used to make the vaccine. Because the vaccine only contains a protein, and not the entire virus, the vaccine cannot cause the HPV infection. It is the body's immune response to the recombinant protein(s) that then protects against diseases caused by the naturally occurring virus.

Polysaccharides- To protect against certain disease-causing bacteria, the main antigens in vaccine are sugar-like substances called polysaccharides; these are purified from the bacteria to make polysaccharide vaccines. However, vaccines composed solely of purified polysaccharides are only effective in older children and adults. Pneumovax 23, a vaccine for the prevention of pneumococcal disease caused by 23 different strains, is an example of a polysaccharide vaccine.

Conjugates- Vaccines made only with polysaccharides do not work very well in young children because their immune system has not fully developed. To make vaccines that protect young children against diseases caused by certain bacteria, the polysaccharides are connected to a protein so that the immune system can recognize and respond to the polysaccharide. The protein acts as a "carrier" for the part of the vaccine that will make protective antibodies in the body. Examples of conjugate vaccines include those to prevent invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

Steps to Take When Your Child is Vaccinated
Review the vaccine information sheets
These sheets explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine. Healthcare providers are required by law to provide them.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of vaccines
Learn the facts about the benefits and risks of vaccines, along with the potential consequences of not vaccinating against diseases. Some parents and caregivers are surprised to learn that children can be harmed or die of measles, diphtheria, pertussis, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Conditions to make your healthcare provider aware of before vaccination
This might include being sick or having a history of certain allergic or other adverse reactions to previous vaccinations or their components. For example, eggs are used to grow many influenza (flu) vaccines; therefore, it is important to inform the healthcare provider if a child is severely allergic to eggs.

The packaging of some vaccines that are supplied in vials or prefilled syringes may contain natural rubber latex, which may cause allergic reactions in latex-sensitive individuals; therefore, an allergy to latex is helpful to inform healthcare providers of beforehand.

It is also particularly important to discuss with your healthcare provider which vaccines should or should not be given to children who have weakened immune systems.
Report adverse reactions
Adverse reactions and other problems related to vaccines should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which is maintained by FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For a copy of the vaccine reporting form, call 1-800-822-7967, or report online to www.vaers.hhs.gov

Routinely Administered Vaccines for Children

Some of the most commonly administered vaccines are briefly discussed below. A complete list of licensed vaccines in the United States and additional information, such as prescribing information and patient labeling are available at: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/vaccines-licensed-use-united-states.

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed (DTaP)

Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (Tdap)

Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Hib)

Brand Names: ActHIB, Hiberix, PedvaxHIB

What it's for: Prevents Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) invasive disease. Before the availability of Hib vaccines, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years of age in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord, which can lead to lasting brain damage and deafness. Hib disease can also cause pneumonia, severe swelling in the throat, infections of the blood, joints, bones, and tissue covering of the heart, as well as death. Both ActHIB and PedvaxHIB are approved for infants and children beginning at 2 months. ActHIB can be given through 5 years of age and PedvaxHIB can be given through 71 months of age; Hiberix is approved for children 6 weeks through the age of 4 (prior to their 5th birthday).

Common side effects may include: Fussiness, sleepiness, and soreness, swelling and redness at the injection site.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand if: The child is moderately or severely ill, or has ever had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of Hib vaccine.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

Hepatitis B Vaccine
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
Influenza Vaccine (administered with a needle)

Brand Names (for children): Afluria Quadrivalent, Fluarix Quadrivalent, Flucelvax Quadrivalent, FluLaval Quadrivalent, and Fluzone Quadrivalent

What it's for: Different vaccines are approved for different age groups to prevent influenza disease, caused by the strains of influenza virus that are included in the vaccine.
Influenza, commonly called "flu," is a contagious respiratory virus that can cause mild to severe illness. The elderly, young children and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) are at high risk for serious influenza-related complications. Complications may include pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of certain medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.
The strains of influenza virus that cause disease in people frequently change, so yearly vaccination is needed to provide protection against the influenza viruses likely to cause illness each winter.

Common side effects may include: Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, low grade fever, and muscle aches, headache, fatigue and general feeling of being unwell.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand if: The child is moderately or severely ill, has immune system problems, or has had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a neurological disorder that causes severe muscle weakness. Also, tell your healthcare provider about any allergies, including severe allergies to eggs and any allergic reaction to a previous dose of any influenza vaccine.

Influenza Vaccine, Intranasal (nasal spray)

Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine

Meningococcal Vaccine

There are two different types of meningococcal vaccines. One type protects against four groups of meningococcal bacteria called groups A, C, W-135, and Y. FDA has approved two vaccines of this type. The other type protects against a meningococcal bacterium called group B. FDA has also approved two meningococcal group B vaccines, but they are only recommended for routine use in certain high-risk groups.

Brand Names: Bexsero, Menactra, Menveo, and Trumenba

What it's for: Prevents certain types of meningococcal disease, a life-threatening illness caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) that infects the bloodstream and the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of meningitis in young children. Even with appropriate antibiotics and intensive care, between 10 and 15 percent of people who develop meningococcal disease die from the infection. Another 10 to 20 percent suffer complications such as brain damage or loss of limb or hearing. Bexsero and Trumenba are approved for use in those 10 through 25 years of age to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by N. meningitidis serogroup B. Menactra and Menveo prevent meningococcal disease caused by N. meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135. Menactra is approved for use in those 9 months through 55 years of age. Menveo is approved for use in those 2 months through 55 years of age.

Common side effects may include: Tenderness, pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, irritability, headache, fever, tiredness, chills, diarrhea and loss of appetite for a short while.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand if: The child is moderately or severely ill, has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of meningococcal vaccine, or has a known sensitivity to vaccine components.

Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine

Poliovirus Vaccine

Rotavirus Vaccine
Varicella Virus Vaccine Your healthcare provider may decide to use the following vaccines to prevent the diseases described previously. These are also approved by FDA and could reduce the total number of shots a child receives.

Brand Name: Kinrix

What it's for: Preventsdiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio in children 4 through 6 years of age (prior to 7th birthday).

Common side effects: Similar to those vaccines described previously for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand: See information included in the sections for those vaccines that prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio.

Brand Name: Pediarix

What it's for: Preventsdiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and polio in children 6 weeks of age through 6 years of age (prior to the 7th birthday).

Common side effects: Similar to those vaccines described previously for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and polio.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand: See information included in the sections for those vaccines that prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and polio.

Brand Name: Pentacel

What it's for: Preventsdiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and invasive Hib disease in children 6 weeks through 4 years of age (prior to 5th birthday).

Common Side Effects: Similar to those vaccines described previously for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand: See information included in the sections for those vaccines that prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib.

Brand Name: ProQuad

What it's for: Preventsmeasles, mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chicken pox) in children 12 months through 12 years of age.

Common side effects: Fever, measles-like rash and injection site reactions such as pain, tenderness, soreness, redness and swelling.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand: See information included in the sections for those vaccines that prevent measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox.

Brand Name: Quadracel

What it's for: Prevents diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio in children 4 through 6 years of age.

Common side effects: muscle aches, fever andinjection site reactions such as pain, swelling and redness

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand: See information included in the sections for those vaccines that prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio.

Brand Name: Vaxelis

What it's for: Prevents diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio and invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in children 6 weeks through 4 years of age.

Common side effects: irritability, injection site reactions such as pain, swelling and redness, drowsiness, decreased appetite and fever.

Tell your healthcare provider beforehand: See information included in the sections for those vaccines that prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio and Hib.

Parents and Caregivers are Asking

Should I be worried about the increasing number of vaccines recommended for children?

No. Because of advances in science and manufacturing, it is easier than in the past to be sure that vaccines are highly pure. Vaccines represent only a minor stimulation of the infant immune system compared to the large number of potentially dangerous bacteria and viruses babies routinely encounter: starting immediately after a baby is born; thousands of different bacteria begin to live on the skin and the lining of the nose, throat, and intestines. The baby's immune system rapidly launches immune responses to these bacteria that prevent them from invading the blood stream.

Are the ingredients that are used to make vaccines safe?

Yes. Each ingredient in a vaccine is included for a reason. Before FDA determines that a vaccine is safe and effective and licenses it for use by the public in the United States, the vaccine is carefully evaluated by FDA scientists and doctors, taking into account the ingredients that make up the entire vaccine.

Are vaccines linked to autism?

No, the scientific evidence does not support a link between vaccination and autism or other developmental disorders.

For More Information

FDA's Web Page on Vaccines
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines

Immunization Schedules
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html

Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/vaccines-licensed-use-united-states

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccine-adverse-events/vaers-overview
Updated: August 2019

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Vaccines for Children - A Guide for Parents and Caregivers

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Vaccines have contributed to a significant reduction in many childhood infectious diseases, such as diphtheria, measles, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Some infectious diseases, such as polio have been eliminated in the United States due to effective vaccines.

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This is a reliable site so the information should be accurate.

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Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. This page explains how vaccines work, what they contain and the most common side effects.

If you're looking for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination information, you can read about:

Be aware of anti-vaccine stories

Anti-vaccine stories are often spread online through social media.

They may not be based on scientific evidence and could put your child at risk of a serious illness.

Things you need to know about vaccines

Vaccines:

Do

protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases

protect other people in your community - by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines

undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced - they're also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced

sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long - some children may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days

reduce or even get rid of some diseases - if enough people are vaccinated

Don't

do not cause autism - studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism

do not overload or weaken the immune system - it's safe to give children several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections they need

do not cause allergies or any other conditions - all the current evidence tells us that vaccinating is safer than not vaccinating

do not contain mercury (thiomersal)

do not contain any ingredients that cause harm in such small amounts - but speak to your doctor if you have any known allergies such as eggs or gelatine

Why vaccines are important

Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent up to 3 million deaths worldwide every year.

Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or seen very rarely.

Other diseases like measles and diphtheria have been reduced by up to 99.9% since their vaccines were introduced.

However, if people stop having vaccines, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the biggest threats to global health.

Vaccine hesitancy is where people with access to vaccines delay or refuse vaccination.

Measles and mumps in England

Measles and mumps are starting to appear again in England, even though the MMR vaccine is safe and protects against both diseases.

Measles and mumps cases have nearly doubled in recent years:

This is serious as measles can lead to life-threatening complications like meningitis, and mumps can cause hearing loss.

Important

If 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, it's possible to get rid of measles.

However, measles, mumps and rubella can quickly spread again if fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated.

How vaccines work

Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases.

It's much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them.

Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can often protect you for many years.

Herd immunity

Having a vaccine also benefits your whole community through "herd immunity".

If enough people are vaccinated, it's harder for the disease to spread to those people who cannot have vaccines. For example, people who are ill or have a weakened immune system.

Why vaccines are safe

All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child.

It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval.

Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it's also monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Anyone can report a suspected side effect of vaccination to the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme.

Who cannot have vaccines

There are very few people who cannot have vaccines.

Generally, vaccines are only not suitable for:

People with weakened immune systems (for example, because of cancer treatment or a health condition) may also not be able to have some vaccines.

If you're not sure if you or your child can be vaccinated, check with a GP, practice nurse, health visitor or pharmacist.

Side effects of vaccination

Most of the side effects of vaccination are mild and do not last long.

The most common side effects of vaccination include:

the area where the needle goes in looking red, swollen and feeling a bit sore for 2 to 3 days

babies or young children feeling a bit unwell or developing a high temperature for 1 or 2 days

Some children might also cry and be upset immediately after the injection. This is normal and they should feel better after a cuddle.

Allergic reactions

It's rare for anyone to have a serious allergic reaction to a vaccination. If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes.

The person who vaccinates you or your child will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately. With prompt treatment, you or your child will make a good recovery.

Read vaccination tips for parents, including what to expect after vaccination

What's in a vaccine?

Most people are not concerned about vaccine ingredients and know that they are safe.

The main ingredient of any vaccine is a small amount of bacteria, virus or toxin that's been weakened or destroyed in a laboratory first.

This means there's no risk of healthy people catching a disease from a vaccine. It's also why you might see vaccines being called "live" or "killed" vaccines.

What's the difference between a live or killed vaccine?

Live and killed vaccine comparison

Live (weakened) vaccines

Killed (destroyed) vaccines

Contain viruses or bacteria that have been weakened

Contain viruses or bacteria that have been destroyed

Cannot be given to people with a weakened immune system

Can still be given to people with a weakened immune system

Gives long-term protection

Often needs several doses or a booster vaccine for full protection

Other vaccine ingredients

Vaccines sometimes contain other ingredients that make the vaccine safe and more effective.

There's no evidence that any of these ingredients cause harm when used in such small amounts.

Aluminium (adjuvant)

Is it safe?

Adjuvants are added to vaccines in very small amounts, which have been shown to be safe. They might cause minor reactions, such as a small temporary lump or redness at the injection site.

We come into contact with aluminium all the time. It's found naturally in very small amounts in:

almost all foods

drinking water

breast milk

baby formula milk

It's also used in medicines, such as antacids, and in food packaging.

Although small amounts of aluminium from these everyday sources can build up in the body, they're not believed to be harmful to our health. Our bodies do not use aluminium and it's gradually eliminated in our pee.

There's no evidence that the levels of aluminium we come across every day increase the risk of conditions like dementia or autism.

The amount of aluminium used in killed vaccines is very, very small. No harmful effects have been seen with vaccines that contain an aluminium-based adjuvant.

What is it?

Aluminium is a very common metal that's been used safely in vaccines for more than 70 years.

Most killed vaccines contain a very small amount of aluminium-based adjuvant to:

help to boost our immune response

make the vaccine more effective and long-lasting

reduce the amount of antigen needed in a vaccine

sometimes reduce the number of doses that need to be given

Squalene oil (adjuvant)

Is it safe?

Adjuvants are added to vaccines in very small amounts, which have been shown to be safe.

They might cause minor reactions, such as a small temporary lump or redness at the injection site.

What is it?

Squalene oil is the adjuvant added to the trivalent flu vaccine for adults aged 65 and over.

It comes from fish oil and is highly purified before being used in the flu vaccine.

Adjuvants are added to some vaccines to:

help to boost our immune response

make the vaccine more effective and long-lasting

reduce the amount of antigen needed in a vaccine

sometimes reduce the number of doses that need to be given

Pork gelatine

Is it safe?

There have been a small number of allergic reactions to vaccines containing gelatine. Speak to your doctor first if you have a known allergy to gelatine.

Some religious groups, such as Muslims and Jews, may be concerned about using vaccines containing gelatine from pigs. But many faith group leaders have stated the use of gelatine in vaccines is acceptable and does not break any religious rules.
Read this NHS leaflet about vaccines and porcine gelatine
What is it?

Gelatine derived from pigs is used as a stabilising agent in some vaccines to:

help protect vaccines from the effects of heat or freeze-drying

help maintain the shelf life of the vaccine

The only vaccines containing gelatine in the UK routine vaccination schedule are:

the shingles vaccine

the children's nasal flu vaccine

1 of the 2 types of MMR vaccine

Human serum albumin and recombinant albumin

Are they safe?

Yes, they are considered safe. Human serum albumin used in vaccines comes from screened blood donors. The manufacturing process ensures there is no risk of transmitting any diseases.

Recombinant albumin does not contain any human or animal products.

What are they?

Human serum albumin is a substance from human blood. It's used to stabilise a chickenpox vaccine called Varilix and maintain its quality during storage.

Recombinant albumin is produced by cells, such as yeast cells, that have had the gene for human albumin inserted into them.

The cells are then able to generate large quantities of human serum albumin without any need to extract it from human blood.

Recombinant albumin may be used in very small amounts as a stabiliser in 1 of the MMR vaccines used in the UK (MMRVaxPro).

Egg protein

Is it safe?

Children and adults with a severe egg allergy can safely receive the MMR vaccine.

Children and adults with an egg allergy are advised to have either:

an egg-free inactivated flu vaccine

a vaccine with a very low egg protein (ovalbumin) content

The live nasal spray flu vaccine given to children has a very low egg protein content. It can be safely given to children with an egg allergy.

Children and adults who have previously had a very severe allergic reaction to eggs may be advised to have their flu vaccine in a hospital.

What is it?

There are 2 vaccines in the UK routine schedule that contain small amounts of egg protein:

the flu vaccine - which is grown on hens' eggs. It can potentially trigger an allergic reaction in people with an egg allergy

the MMR vaccine - which is grown on cells from chick embryos, which is not the same as hens' eggs. This means it does not trigger an allergic reaction

Formaldehyde

Is it safe?

Formaldehyde can be found naturally in our bloodstream at levels far higher than we would be exposed to in vaccines.

Although formaldehyde can be harmful in high concentrations, there are no health concerns about the small amounts found in vaccines.

What is it?

Formaldehyde is a chemical also used in the production of killed vaccines. It's used very early in the manufacturing process to kill or inactivate the toxins from bacteria or viruses.

Once the antigens are inactivated, the formaldehyde is diluted out. It's possible that trace amounts may remain in the final vaccine.

Antibiotics

Are they safe?

If you know you're allergic to neomycin or any other antibiotic, speak to your doctor or practice nurse before having a vaccine.

Antibiotics known to cause allergic reactions, such as penicillin, are generally not used in vaccines.

But tiny amounts of an antibiotic called neomycin, which is capable of triggering an allergic reaction, are found in:

the MMR vaccine

6-in-1 vaccine

quadrivalent inactivated flu vaccine

4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine Repevax

shingles vaccine

What are they?

Antibiotics are added to some vaccines to prevent the growth of bacteria during the production and storage of the vaccine.

Antibiotics can only be found in tiny amounts in the final vaccine.

A full list of any vaccine's ingredients is available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website

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Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. This page explains how vaccines work, what they contain and the most common side effects. If you're looking for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination information, you can read about: Anti-vaccine stories are often spread online through social media.

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Pro’s and con’s what parents need to know - COVID vaccines for children under five: what parents need to know | Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

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Pro’s and con’s what parents need to know - COVID vaccines for children under five: what parents need to know | Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

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Mandates are already part of many countries' health policies

Nearly two years since Chinese doctors first observed mysterious new cases of pneumonia, Covid-19 is still with us. On top of that, what has been described as the most worrying variant yet has emerged. Could mandatory vaccinations be a way out?

Covid vaccinations are already a requirement for public life in many parts of the world.

If you are a French doctor, a New Zealand teacher or a Canadian government employee, getting your shots is essential to go to work. Indonesia can deny benefits to people who refuse jabs. Greece is making them compulsory for the over-60s.

Austria is set to go further still, with a plan to introduce mandatory vaccinations for all by February.

This would not mean Austrians being forcibly injected. There will be medical and religious exemptions. But the bulk of the remaining unvaccinated population face fines for not getting their shots.

With Germany planning a similar move it is not a debate that is going away. I spoke to public health and other experts to get a sense of what's at stake.

FOR: Vaccines save lives

There's a very simple argument in favour of mandating Covid-19 vaccinations. By getting vaccinated you reduce your risk of serious illness. Less serious illnesses mean fewer deaths, and less pressure on hospitals.

Historically, immunisation campaigns have seen huge success, eradicating smallpox and drastically reducing mortality levels in diseases such as polio and measles.

"We have really good examples that just show a direct causal relationship between requirements, getting very high vaccination rates, and protecting not just individuals but protecting communities," says Jason Schwartz, an associate professor in the History of Medicine at Yale University.

"Vaccines work, they absolutely work, we're got a large body of evidence to show that."

Mandates softer than the one proposed by Austria have achieved their goal of raising vaccination levels. France's pass sanitaire, required to access restaurants and other public spaces, is credited with boosting rates to the extent the government hopes it can avoid compulsory vaccinations.

AGAINST: There will be resistance

Here in London, in July anti-lockdown demonstrators took to the streets to demonstrate against a lockdown that had been lifted just hours earlier.

The point is, whatever a government does, it will face opposition. Covid restrictions in particular have drawn protests around the world and mandatory vaccinations are a step beyond, say, a mask mandate.

"When it comes to vaccines, people do think very differently," says Vageesh Jain, a public health doctor at the Institute for Global Health at University College London.

"Anything that's administered to them in their body, it's not going to be thought of in the same way, even though academics and others may think theoretically it's just a restriction, people do have this kind of emotive response."

Anadolu Agency

Melbourne, Australia is one of many places people took to the streets to oppose Covid restrictions

While there will always be some who will never be persuaded to get vaccinated, it is possible to be sceptical about vaccinations without being an anti-vaxxer.

An Austrian study distinguished between the 14.5% of the country's 9m population who were unprepared to get vaccinated and the 9% who were simply hesitant.

Governments must weigh whether the benefits outweigh the backlash. But as Cathleen Powell, a law professor at the University of Cape Town, argues, there is a legal case to be made.

"The right to bodily integrity as a person who doesn't want to be vaccinated, who wants to make his or her own choices about what medical treatment to get, comes up directly against the rights of other people, not to be infected with potentially fatal diseases," she says.

FOR: We've exhausted other options...

Covid has been with us for some time, but then so have vaccines.

In Europe at least, the momentum behind mandates reflects a frustration that after months of vaccinations and widespread availability there remain significant unvaccinated populations.

There's a stark difference in vaccination rates across the continent from west to east.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was now time to think about mandatory vaccinations, although she stressed individual governments would decide.

"We have the vaccines, the life-saving vaccines, but they are not being used adequately everywhere," she said.

AGAINST: ...or maybe not just yet

While there is a strong health argument in favour of mandatory vaccinations, it is not the only way to boost levels.

"What is quite noticeable in the past is how politicians do like the idea of mandatory vaccination because it seems to give a quick answer to the problem," says Samantha Vanderslott, a social sciences researcher at the Oxford Vaccine Group.

"I wouldn't want government to neglect other things that need to be done to make sure that people really have access to vaccines."

Austria won't be making vaccines mandatory until February and is still using other means. "For those who are afraid, who have no trust, for those whose assessment of risk is low - for them it is important that they are listened to and that their concerns are taken seriously," Barbara Juen, a health psychologist at the University of Innsbruck, told national broadcaster ORF.

In South Africa, 24% of the population is vaccinated, less than half the European average but considerably higher than the 7% average recorded across the African continent. There's no shortage of jabs and low take-up has been blamed in part on misinformation.

The government has floated making vaccines compulsory in some circumstances, but the number of vaccines administered has risen rapidly since the discovery of the Omicron variant. It's not just governments that provide nudges.

FOR: End the cycle of lockdowns

Compulsory vaccinations are not the only form of mandate. Most governments have imposed some form of restrictions, from Covid passes to travel bans, that carry their own costs.

On top of the lives saved, a blanket vaccine mandate could spell the end of lockdowns.

Experts answer your questions about the Omicron variant

"It's not just about having your liberty changed... it's about economic damage and the mental health damage the physical health damage," says Alberto Giubilini, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. He favours mandates for those most vulnerable to coronavirus.

"There is no reason to impose the huge, huge costs of lockdowns on people when you have another measure available."

AGAINST: It could prove counterproductive

Some have more long-term concerns, such as whether a successful programme could build distrust of future campaigns.

"Mandatory schemes during a crisis will be counterproductive," Dr Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist who advises the WHO on pandemic recovery, told al-Jazeera.

"When people have what we call conspiracy theories or they have misbeliefs or misunderstandings, [such schemes] will only strengthen their opinions."

Vanderslott points to the political climate: "We have witnessed, especially in Europe, parties tapping into the vaccine opposition and knowing that that might be a way to get votes from a certain section of the population," she says.

"We could see more parties, and they tend to be on the right, putting out that kind of message in their political campaign and saying that they want to remove measures for mandatory vaccination. That's a fear and then once that happens, we don't have the option anymore to use that as a policy measure."

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Mandatory vaccinations: Three reasons for and against

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Blanket vaccination mandates are on the agenda but do they work and what are their costs?

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Vaccines work by teaching your immune system to recognise certain viruses. After you receive a vaccine, your body will be more prepared to fight back. Vaccines help prevent or reduce the severity of the illness if you are exposed to the virus that causes the disease.The science behind many types of vaccines has existed for decades. Many different techniques are used to make vaccines, and they each work in specific ways.

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Vaccines work by teaching your immune system to recognise certain viruses. After you receive a vaccine, your body will be more prepared to fight back. Vaccines help prevent or reduce the severity of the illness if you are exposed to the virus that causes the disease.The science behind many types of vaccines has existed for decades. Many different techniques are used to make vaccines, and they each work in specific ways.

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world health organisation - How do vaccines work? (who.int)	

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world health organisation - How do vaccines work? (who.int)	

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Children who are not vaccinated can transmit vaccine- preventable diseases at schools and in the community. Unvaccinated children can infect babies who are too young to be fully immunized. Unvaccinated children can infect people of any age who can't be immunized for medical reasons.

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The body has many ways of defending itself against pathogens (disease-causing organisms). 