Vaccines are essential tools in preventing serious illnesses, yet there are many myths surrounding them. A common misconception is that vaccines are unsafe or cause the illness they aim to prevent. In reality, vaccines undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety and are made from either inactivated or weakened forms of pathogens — which cannot cause the disease. In fact, it’s actually impossible for vaccines to cause the disease that they are designed to prevent.
Most vaccines, such as COVID-19 and injectable influenza (flu), do not have any whole virus particles in them. In other words, they are not inactivated or weakened forms of pathogens. Rather, these vaccines contain only the antigenic proteins (proteins that normally live on the surface of the virus), which serve to identify the virus particle as foreign. These foreign proteins are then seen by the body’s immune system as invaders, which causes the immune system to form antibodies against the surface proteins. When you are exposed to a real live virus in the future, your body has already prepared antibodies that will identify the virus particles based on their surface proteins, causing the immune system to kill them.
Some people are hesitant when it comes to getting vaccinated due to concerns over side effects or distrust in health systems. However, most side effects (like soreness) are mild and temporary. Because these foreign proteins are seen by the immune system as invaders, the immune system is activated by the vaccine. Sometimes, this can result in a person feeling the symptoms of the real illness: fever, chills, body aches, or fatigue. But these symptoms are always milder than what the actual live virus would cause; plus they are short-lived and temporary. Getting vaccinated not only protects the individual, but also builds what we call “herd immunity,” shielding the whole population from outbreaks. The more individuals in the “herd” who are immune to a virus, the less likely that virus is to spread throughout the population. Herd immunity is the best way to eliminate a virus from the population. Lack of herd immunity is why, for many decades, illnesses like polio or measles were sicknesses of the past. Unfortunately, because of vaccine reluctance, these viruses are making a comeback in our population.
Being aware of misinformation is key. Reliable sources, like the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control, provide scientifically backed information to debunk myths and help you make informed health decisions.
Myth: Vaccines cause autism or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Fact: There’s no scientific link between vaccines and autism or SIDS. These diagnoses often coincide with vaccination ages, but rigorous studies have shown vaccines are safe, and serious side effects are extremely rare. Diseases, like measles and polio, are far more dangerous without vaccines.
Myth: You can get COVID-19 from the vaccine.
Fact: COVID-19 vaccines don’t contain a live virus, so they can’t give you COVID. Instead, they build immunity safely over time, as outlined above.
Myth: It’s better to get diseases naturally than through vaccines.
Fact: Vaccine-preventable diseases can cause serious harm, whereas vaccines provide safe immunity without these risks. Getting actual COVID-19 is far more dangerous than the potential side effects of the vaccine.
By debunking these myths, we hope to encourage informed decisions about vaccinations. Vaccines are safe, essential tools for keeping our communities healthy. For more details, check out the World Health Organization’s vaccine Q&A.
