Natural immunity is better than vaccine-acquired immunity

Some people believe that naturally acquired immunity is better than immunity from a vaccine (1). Naturally immunity means that a person is acquiring the disease and becoming infected. Which result in a stronger immunity to the disease compared to what a person would have with a vaccine. However, this is very dangerous and outweighs the benefit of a stronger immunity response. For example, with measles, if you contract the full disease then there is a 1 in 500 chance of death from the symptoms. However, in contrast to those who are allergic to the MMR, there is a less than 1 in a million (3). Therefore, natural immunity can cause severe complications and may be deadly (1).

 (2).

Resources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, July). Understanding How Vaccines Work. Retrieved May 03, 2020, from 2. Public Health, S. (2020, April 29). Vaccine Myths Debunked. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/understanding-vaccines/vaccine-myths-debunked/
2. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. (n.d.). Understanding Risk: History of Vaccines. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/understanding-risk
3. Public Health, S. (2020, April 29). Vaccine Myths Debunked. Retrieved May 3, 2020, from https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/understanding-vaccines/vaccine-myths-debunked/

There are no more vaccine preventable diseases where I live so I do not need to vaccinate my child

While it may be true that there are no cases of disease in a given area at a specific time, especially in the United States where so many VPDs have been sidelined through aggressive vaccination, there is nothing to prevent the reintroduction of a disease pathogen from outside. People who are unvaccinated are protected through herd immunity, but it requires a high number of people to be vaccinated to protect the population. High rates of international travel mean that if a pathogen is present anywhere it can easily get anywhere. Unprotected individuals are then vulnerable. If a significant number of people are unvaccinated, this provides the pathogen with the opportunity to once again establish and spread quickly (2).

(1)

 

¹Airplane Travelling Around Earth Vector - Travel Symbol Png PNG Image: Transparent PNG Free Download on SeekPNG. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2020, from https://www.seekpng.com/ipng/u2q8u2t4e6t4t4a9_airplane-travelling-around-earth-vector-travel-symbol-png/ 

²Vaccines Myths Debunked (2020), retrieved 2 May 2020, https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/understanding-vaccines/vaccine-myths-debunked/

Not vaccinating my child only affect them

While the most immediate effects of not being vaccinated are to the unvaccinated individual – they may become ill if exposed, they may need to be socially isolated or excluded in times of exposure, and they will need to inform health care personnel of their status which may complicate other treatment. However, they also pose a risk to others. An unvaccinated woman who contracts rubella while pregnant, for example, may pass congenital rubella syndrome on to her unborn child which could lead to severe heart defects and developmental issues (1). An unvaccinated person who becomes ill also compromises others who are unable to become vaccinated due to some other medical condition, such as cancers patients, or transplant recipients. The unvaccinated person can also carry disease pathogens when they travel, spreading a disease that would otherwise be unable to start (3).

(2)

¹The Harm of Skipping Vaccinations or Delaying (2015), retrieved 2 May 2020, https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/immunization/vaccine_safety/harm.htm

²Rubella. (2020, March 31). Retrieved May 4, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rubella/symptoms-causes/syc-20377310  

³Vaccines Myths Debunked (2020), retrieved 2 May 2020, https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/understanding-vaccines/vaccine-myths-debunked/