Frequently Asked Questions

Do vaccines cause diseases like diabetes, autism, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis?
Are vaccines more dangerous than diseases?
The diseases aren’t around anymore, so is there a need to vaccinate children?
Do Adults need to be vaccinated?
Are vaccines safe?

Do vaccines cause diseases like diabetes, autism, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis?

Well-controlled studies have found no association between vaccination and these diseases.

Are vaccines more dangerous than diseases?

The diseases are much more dangerous than the vaccines. For example, one in every 20 people who gets Hib (a type of influenza) will die, and many of those who survive will have permanent brain damage or deafness. One in every 50 people who gets hepatitis B will die. On the other hand, less than one in a million people who get vaccinated will have a severe adverse effect.

The diseases aren’t around anymore, so is there a need to vaccinate children?

The diseases are still around, and you can get them if you aren’t immunized. Northerners often travel to other parts of the world where these diseases still kill many people. Some of these diseases are still found in the NWT and other parts of Canada. People who aren’t immunized can very easily catch and spread diseases like measles and polio. There are well documented examples of the health risks that arise when many people do not get immunized.

For example, in 1974, many people in England decided not to immunize their children against whooping cough. Four years later, there was an epidemic of 100,000 cases of whooping cough and 36 whooping cough-related deaths. In the next few years, there were a total of three epidemics, and of the hundreds of thousands of people who got sick, 100 children died. In addition, in the past few years, hundreds of people in England have caught measles, and some have died, because fewer people are vaccinating their children against the disease.

We can learn from these examples. Immunization is still necessary – it is the best protection and is very safe.

Do Adults need to be vaccinated?

Adults need booster shots for Tetanus and Diphtheria every ten years. This maintains your immunity and keeps you safe.

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are very safe. They are one of the safest tools your doctor or nurse uses. Your arm might hurt after you get a shot, but the pain will go away. In Canada, severe allergic reactions happen less than once per million doses of vaccine. One in a million is the same as one penny in $10,000, or one grain of sugar in a cupful.

Last Updated: November 08, 2006