Myths and Facts About Vaccines

Are you dreading the start of flu season, but have questions and concerns about how vaccines work? There’s a lot of information out there, and it’s hard to know which sources to believe. 

At Alpha Internal Medicine in Fayetteville, Georgia, we care about our patients, from small children to senior adults and everyone in between. Vaccines are a necessary part of flu prevention, especially for certain vulnerable groups of people. We can help set some facts straight so you can make the best medical decisions for you and your family.

Our team of providers shares a few of the common myths related to vaccines.

Myth: Vaccines have high levels of dangerous toxins

The main ingredient in vaccines is antigens, which are typically the killed virus, which causes the body to form antibodies against it. Vaccines also contain trace amounts of formaldehyde and thimerosal, a type of preservative that includes mercury, as well as tiny amounts of aluminum. The amount of these substances is very, very small, considering the substances we’re exposed to in the environment.

Myth: Vaccines cause autism

The simple answer is that, no, vaccines do not cause autism. By far the most popular and controversial misconception about vaccines, no scientific evidence supports this theory. Children with autism typically start to show signs around the time they are due for their first MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, which is probably how this misconception got started. But to be certain, if a child has autism, he or she had it before the vaccine. The timing of the diagnosis and the vaccine is purely coincidental.

Myth: It’s bad to put unnatural substances in our bodies

Just because something is “natural” doesn’t automatically mean it’s good for us (take tobacco, for example). The germs that vaccines are designed to protect us from are also natural, but they’re also dangerous. Furthermore, there are plenty of wild plants out there in the wild that are toxic when ingested by humans.

Any live germs in vaccines have been altered to the point that they don’t cause illnesses. They contain purified parts of the germ and target the immune system much like an illness would – except they prevent us from actually getting sick.

Learn more about the benefits of vaccines

If you still have questions or concerns about vaccinating yourself or your child, you can schedule a consultation by calling 770-719-5490 and have your questions answered. You can also schedule an appointment online through our website.