Vaccines: Why they still matter Vaccines remain one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself, your family and your community from serious illness. While questions about vaccines continue to make headlines, decades of research have shown that vaccines are a safe and effective way to help prevent diseases that once caused widespread illness and death. It’s normal to have questions about vaccines, especially with so much information available online and on social media. Understanding the facts can help you make informed decisions about your health and the health of those around you. MYTH VS. FACT MYTHI’m healthy, so I do not need vaccines. FACT Even healthy people can become seriously ill from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines help reduce your risk of infection and can lessen the severity of illness if you do become sick. They also help protect infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems who may be more vulnerable to serious complications. MYTHVaccines contain dangerous ingredients. FACT Vaccine ingredients are carefully studied and used in very small amounts. Each ingredient has a specific purpose, such as helping the vaccine work effectively or keeping it stable during storage. The amounts used have been shown to be safe and are often much lower than the levels people encounter naturally in everyday life. MYTHVaccines aren’t proven to be effective. FACT Before a vaccine is approved for use, it undergoes years of research and rigorous testing to evaluate its safety and effectiveness. Even after approval, vaccines continue to be monitored to ensure they meet high safety standards. Vaccination has helped reduce or eliminate many diseases that once caused serious illness, disability and death. 4 Faith Health
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