Questions Parents May Ask about Vaccines

Preparing for Questions Parents May Ask

At a glance

Parents consider you their most trusted source of information when it comes to vaccines. Be prepared to listen to and respond to questions they might have.

Common Questions

The list below outlines some of the topics parents ask about most and tips for how to respond. You may want to print this quick reference guide to assist in your conversations.

Vaccine schedule and number of vaccines

Some parents may be concerned that there are too many vaccines or that their child will receive too many at one time. You can help them understand that following the recommended vaccine schedule provides the best protection at the earliest possible time against serious diseases that may affect infants early in life.

Parents may ask:

Can it harm my child to get several vaccines at one time? Does my child need all of the recommended vaccines right now? Won't it hurt to get that many shots? Can we wait and get some later?

To respond, you can:

  • Share that no evidence suggests that receiving several vaccines at one time will damage or overwhelm a healthy child's immune system.
  • Explain what antigens are (parts of germs) and emphasize the small amount of antigens in vaccines compared to the antigens babies encounter every day in their environment.
  • Mention that many recommended childhood vaccines are available in combination vaccines so children get fewer shots.
  • Remind parents that they must start each vaccine series on time to protect their child as soon as possible and their child must complete each multi-dose series for the best protection. There are no data to support that spacing out vaccines offers safe or effective protection from these diseases.

Example‎

"Research shows that it's safe to get all recommended vaccines today. And luckily, some are available in combination vaccines, so there are less shots to get. Any time you delay a vaccine, you leave your baby vulnerable to disease, so it's really best to stay on schedule."

Dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases

Because vaccines are very effective, many parents have not seen a case of a vaccine-preventable disease firsthand. They may wonder if vaccines are necessary and if the risks of vaccinating infants outweigh the benefits of protection from vaccine preventable diseases.

Parents may ask:

Are these diseases that dangerous? Is it likely that my baby will catch this disease? Will ingredients in vaccines hurt my baby more than possibly getting the disease could?

To respond, you can:

  • Share your knowledge of how these serious diseases still exist. Explain that outbreaks still occur in the U.S.
  1. Global measles activity is increasing. U.S. measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) coverage among kindergarteners is below the 95 percent coverage target—much lower in some communities—and is decreasing.
  2. Reported whooping cough rates have increased in the United States since the early 1990s. As of June 2024, more than double the cases of whooping cough were reported as of this date in 2023. Whooping cough is returning to its more typical pre-pandemic cyclic patterns of more than 10,000 cases a year
  • Teach parents that diseases eliminated in the U.S. can infect unvaccinated babies if travelers bring the diseases from other countries.

Remind parents that many vaccine-preventable diseases can be especially dangerous for young children and there is no way to tell in advance if their child will get a severe or mild case. Without vaccines, their child is at risk for getting seriously ill and suffering pain, disability, and even death from diseases like measles and whooping cough.

Example‎

"I know you didn't get all these vaccines when you were a baby. Neither did I. However, we were both at risk of serious diseases like pneumococcal meningitis, which can lead to deafness or brain damage, and RSV, which is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants in the US. We're able to protect your baby from many more serious diseases than ever before with vaccines."

Known side effects

It is reasonable for parents to be concerned about possible reactions or side effects of vaccines. But most of these effects are minor, treatable, and last only a few days.

Parents may ask:

Will my child be okay if she has a side effect? I know someone whose baby had a serious reaction – will my baby too?

To respond, you can:

  • Remind parents that most side effects are mild and go away within a few days.
  • Encourage parents to watch for possible side effects (fussiness, low-grade fever, soreness where the shot was given) and provide information on how they should treat them and how to contact you if they observe something they are concerned about.
  • Share your own experience, or lack thereof, seeing a serious side effect from a vaccine. Explain that serious side effects are very rare.
  • Reassure parents that you and your staff are prepared to deal with rare serious vaccine reactions.

Remind parents that the disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the risks of possible side effects.

Example‎

"Vaccines are continually monitored for safety, and deciding not to immunize your child could put him at risk. Let's look at the Vaccine Information Statements together and talk about how rare serious vaccine side effects are."

Unknown, serious, or long-term side effects

Parents may encounter information that says vaccines can lead to serious long-term side effects. It is understandable that parents may find this alarming.

Parents may ask:

Do vaccines cause long-term side effects? Will getting a vaccine permanently hurt my child's health?

To respond, you can:

  • Share that vaccines are not linked to increases in health problems such as autism, asthma, or auto-immune diseases.
  • Remind parents that there is no evidence to suggest vaccines threaten a long, healthy life. But we do know lack of vaccination threatens a long and healthy life.

Example‎

"We have decades of experience with vaccines and no reason to believe that vaccines cause long-term harm. I understand your concern, but I truly believe that the risk of diseases is greater than any risks posed by vaccines. Vaccines will get your baby off to a great start for a long, healthy life."

Vaccine ingredients

Parents may ask about the ingredients contained in vaccines. Let them know that all ingredients in vaccines come in very small amounts and play necessary roles either in making the vaccine or in ensuring that the final product is safe and effective.

Parents may ask:

Are the ingredients in vaccines safe? Aren't aluminum and mercury dangerous?

To respond, you can explain:

  • Preservatives prevent contamination of the vaccine. Thimerosal, a compound containing mercury, is a preservative only found in multi-dose vials of flu vaccine.
  • Adjuvants or enhancers, such as aluminum salts, are used to help the body develop immunity and a better immune response.
  • Stabilizers, such as sugars and gelatin, are used to keep the vaccine potent during transportation and storage.
  • Residual cell culture materials, such as egg protein, are used to grow enough of the virus or bacteria to make the vaccine.
  • Residual inactivating ingredients, such as formaldehyde, are used during the production process to kill viruses or inactivate toxins during the manufacturing process.
  • Residual antibiotics, such as neomycin, are used during the vaccine manufacturing process to prevent contamination by bacteria.

Example‎

"Each vaccine ingredient plays an important role in either making the vaccine or ensuring that it is safe and effective so it will protect your child. In many cases, vaccines contain ingredients at a dose that is even lower than the dose we are naturally exposed to in our environment."

Whether vaccines are linked to autism

Many rigorous studies show that there is no link between MMR vaccine or thimerosal and autism. Although many parents are aware of this research, some parents have lingering questions and concerns.

Parents may ask:

I've heard some parents say their child's behavior changed after vaccines; how do you know vaccines don't cause autism?

Three key items:

If parents raise other possible hypotheses linking vaccines to autism, three items are key:

  • Give patient and empathetic reassurance that you understand their infant's health is their top priority, and it also is your top priority, so putting children at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases without scientific evidence of a link between vaccines and autism is a risk you are not willing to take.
  • Share that the onset of autism symptoms often coincides with the timing of vaccines but has nothing to do with vaccines.
  • Give your personal and professional opinion that vaccines are very safe.

Example‎

"Autism is a challenge for many families and people want answers—including me. But well designed and conducted studies that I can share with you show that MMR vaccine has nothing to do with autism."

Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)