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Risk versus benefit |
Many things in life involve risk. The chance of dying in a car accident, for example, is one in 6,000 per year, yet few of us would forego the convenience of travelling by car.
Similarly, any risks involved in using vaccines are outweighed by the benefits they offer. For example, measles is so contagious that before the measles vaccine was widely used, 90% of unvaccinated children would catch it before they reached 20 years of age.
Of all these sick children:
- One in 25 developed pneumonia, often with permanent lung scarring;
- One in 2,000 developed encephalitis (brain inflammation);
- For every 10 with encephalitis, one died and up to four had permanent brain damage;
- One in 25,000 developed SSPE (progressive brain degeneration), which is always fatal;
- The overall death rate is one in 3,000 cases.
Following measles vaccination:
1.78 million Australian children were vaccinated during the Measles Control Campaign in 1998 with 89 reported reactions. Of these children:
- 11 had an allergic reaction,
- 5 developed a fever,
- 3 developed a rash,
- 1 developed encephalitis.
All 89 children have recovered.
Possible vaccine side effects are listed in the vaccine package insert.
Some people worry drug companies conceal bad reactions. But they should remember this would also have to involve the collusion of the World Health Organisation, parents and relatives, doctors and health workers in every country of the world. Each country that vaccinates has a system of tracking and reporting severe adverse reactions. The fact is that serious reactions are uncommon and in some cases so rare that there is debate they are related to the vaccine at all.
The risks of vaccination compared to the risks of the disease have been calculated several times (Galazka 1984, Velimirovic 1991, Koplan 1985, Holden 1987, etc). A typical vaccination program in a developing country will prevent about 45 childhood deaths and 12 serious handicaps a month, while causing one death in 22 years and one serious handicap in 7.5 years.
For further information and references see Why vaccinate? article
Why do we need immunisation?
Do vaccines cause other diseases?
Pneumococcal
Does vaccination work?
Flu & pneumococcal vaccination resources updated
Measles and pertussis risk higher for children with personal exemptions from immunization
Public Health Alert over positive case of polio in Australia
Separation from birth - the story of one rubella damaged child
Spike goes to Wardell
Measles warning for North Coast communities
Pneumococcal vaccine to be provided for both young and old
Statement from Chief Medical Officer re MMR vaccine & autism/ inflammatory bowel disease
Hib
Whooping cough
Indonesian cases prompt poliomyelitis alert
Why Vaccinate?
Are vaccines safe?
Free national vaccine program to combat meningococcal type C
Five new cases of measles hit NSW
Provision of free measles vaccine:
Chicken pox
Does vaccination cause SIDS?
New vaccines funded
Education is not the only thing children can bring home from school
MMR vaccine, inflammatory bowel disease and autism
Comparison of effects of vaccines and diseases
Changes to immunisation schedule
Measles spotted on the Northern Rivers
An afternoon with immunisation expert, Professor Margaret Burgess
Meningococcal C funding extended
A child\'s right to good health
Parents of young children warned about whooping cough risks
Spike the immunisation echidna visits local childcare centres
High vax rates lead to decline in childhood diseases
Be alert for symptoms of meningococcal
Free meningococcal vaccines for older children & young adults to end
Passenger with measles on flight from Bangkok
Reasons Why People Choose Not to Vaccinate
John Yu - A voice for children
Pediatrics
Immunisation Handbook 8th edition
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