Vaccines save millions of lives every year and have saved hundreds of millions of lives since the development of the first inoculation more than 200 years ago. Despite this transformative medical breakthrough, in 2019 the World Health Organization called vaccine hesitancy one of the top 10 global threats and continues to address it as a top priority.
“Parents often worry about side effects, the number of vaccines given at one time or things they’ve read online. It’s normal to have questions. What’s important is getting answers from trusted, evidence-based sources and talking to your pediatrician to help answer any questions,” says Torrance Memorial Physician Network pediatrician Grace Pyo, MD.
But while vaccine hesitancy might seem like a uniquely modern problem—driven by social media, misinformation and political discord—it dates to the earliest days of vaccinations. With evolving guidance from public health authorities, it’s easy for parents to feel confused, even though vaccines are believed to be one of the most effective tools in protecting children from serious illnesses.
In today’s highly polarized climate, online platforms can rapidly spread misinformation and disinformation, especially among parents looking for reassurance. Public health experts stress the importance of distinguishing between credible information and fiction.
“There is a lot of information out there for parents to Google or see on social media,” says Dr. Pyo. “Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between facts and misinformation.”
To make informed choices, Dr. Pyo recommends parents utilize trusted sources like the American Academy of Pediatrics to educate themselves. Vaccines, she explains, help one’s immune system recognize and fight germs without causing the illness. A tiny, harmless piece of a virus or bacteria—like a protein or an inactivated version—is used to “train” the body to defend itself if it ever encounters the real virus or bacteria. Vaccines don’t just protect those who get inoculated; they also protect those who can't, such as people who are immune-compromised, allergic or not old enough.
“When more people are vaccinated, there’s less of the disease going around,” says Dr. Pyo.
The first vaccine was developed in 1796 for one of the deadliest diseases known to humans: smallpox. While it revolutionized medicine and saved hundreds of millions of lives worldwide and led to the eventual eradication of smallpox in 1980, the vaccine was first met with suspicion and skepticism. When it became mandatory in parts of Europe by the mid-1800s, there was public backlash citing government overreach and safety concerns, echoing some of today’s critics.
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a host of vaccines to protect children from debilitating and sometimes fatal diseases. Health experts emphasize these scheduled vaccines are not only safe but often lifesaving.
“Vaccines go through extensive testing for safety and effectiveness,” says Dr. Pyo. “They are one of the best ways we have to keep children and communities healthy and protected from serious diseases. Kids need several vaccines from birth through their teenage years, including ones for hepatitis B, DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), varicella (chickenpox), PCV (pneumococcal), flu and more.”
Vaccines are scheduled at specific ages to give protection when children need it most. “Our clinics follow the CDC immunization schedules. Getting more than one at once is safe and helps keep kids on track without overloading their immune system,” says Dr. Pyo. If your child is behind on their immunizations, your pediatrician can review them and get your child back on track.
Getting the COVID-19 and flu vaccines together is also safe and convenient. Until recently, the CDC universally recommended that all children ages 6 months and older be vaccinated against COVID-19. But following a directive from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC now describes it as a “shared clinical decision,” meaning vaccinating healthy children for COVID-19 is no longer recommended but they still may receive it.
A recent update to the childhood vaccine schedule includes new ways to protect babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus and the leading cause of hospitalization for U.S. babies, especially those under 6 months old. Nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody recommended for all infants younger than 8 months who are born during or entering their first RSV season, and for children ages 8 months to 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and are entering their second RSV season.
“These new options are already showing strong results, helping keep the youngest infants out of the hospital during peak RSV season,” says Dr. Pyo.
Discuss any questions or concerns with your pediatrician. Being informed about vaccines can help you navigate conversations with others who may have differing views. Dr. Pyo recommends listening first. “Then share facts with kindness and understanding,” she says. “Focus on the shared goal: keeping your child healthy.”
Torrance Memorial Physician Network pediatric offices will offer all pediatric vaccines including the flu and COVID-19 shots this fall.
Grace Pyo, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Pediatrics, 3440 Lomita Blvd., Suite 250, Torrance. She can be reached at 310-517-1188.
