Vaccine hesitancy is rarely about a lack of caring. It’s usually about specific concerns picked up from a friend, a podcast or social media. Here are five common claims, and the actual evidence.
1. “Vaccines cause autism.”
No. This claim originated in a 1998 paper that was retracted in 2010 after being shown to be fraudulent. Dozens of large studies since, involving millions of children, have found no link between any vaccine, including MMR, and autism. Autism’s onset coincides with the age childhood vaccines are given, which led to the original confusion.
2. “The flu shot gives you the flu.”
No. The injected flu vaccine contains no live virus, it cannot cause influenza. Some people feel run down for 24 hours after vaccination, that is the immune system responding, not the flu. The nasal-spray formulation contains weakened live virus that cannot replicate at body temperature.
3. “Natural immunity is better than vaccine immunity.”
For some infections, natural immunity is stronger, but you have to survive the disease and any complications to acquire it. Measles encephalitis. Tetanus. Pertussis in infancy. Diphtheria. These are too high a price for immunity when a safer alternative exists.
4. “Vaccines contain harmful substances.”
Vaccines contain tiny amounts of ingredients that allow them to work, antigen, adjuvant, preservative, stabiliser. The amount of any single ingredient is far below toxic thresholds. Thiomersal, for example, was removed from almost all childhood vaccines in Australia years ago.
5. “Too many vaccines overload a baby’s immune system.”
Babies encounter thousands of antigens every day, dust, food, contact with carers. The cumulative antigen load from the entire NIP childhood schedule is a tiny fraction of what an infant immune system handles routinely.
How to talk about this
Lead with curiosity, not correction. Ask what they’re worried about specifically. Most people’s concerns shrink when met with specific, calm information from someone they trust.
Sources & further reading
General information only. This article is educational and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Your immuniser will confirm eligibility and contraindications on the day.
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