Spring may be just around the corner but common colds, flu and respiratory viruses are still spreading fast. The good news is that there are ways to reduce your risk of getting very sick, including getting vaccinated against COVID-19, flu and whooping cough, as well as RSV and pneumococcus, if you’re eligible. Infectious disease expert, Dr. Shira Doron, cuts through the noise to give us the facts about these important disease busters.
Myth #1: Vaccines contain unsafe ingredients.
Fact: Every vaccine goes through a thorough evaluation before it’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). During this process, the FDA scrutinizes all the ingredients in a vaccine. Every ingredient plays a different role, some build immunity, while others help preserve the vaccine’s quality and extend its life. Once a vaccine is approved and released for use, a robust safety monitoring system is in place to make sure there are no side effects detected in the population that would warrant closer scrutiny. Vaccines have been removed from the market using that strategy.
Myth #2: I don’t need to get vaccinated for uncommon diseases like polio and measles.
Fact: Staying up-to-date on vaccines reduces the chance of getting sick from preventable diseases. Although some diseases have been largely eradicated from the U.S. like polio, they can still exist in areas with low levels of vaccination. Vaccines provide immunity and strengthen the body’s ability to fight germs should an infectious disease return. Getting vaccinated is also one way to reduce the chance that you will spread germs that can make others seriously ill. Also, some people are more susceptible to preventable diseases because their immune systems are weak, they have a serious health condition or they are too young to receive a shot. By getting vaccinated, even against diseases that are less frequent today, you are helping to keep your community healthy.
Myth #3: Too many vaccines can overload your immune system.
Fact: Multiple vaccines can be given at the same time, even to young babies, and there are even vaccines that are given as a combination shot. This is done to reduce the number of shots children get at once and the number of times you have to visit the doctor. Data show that getting multiple vaccines simultaneously is safe, according to the CDC. In fact, “scientific data show that getting several vaccines at the same time does not cause any chronic health problems.” Vaccines can be safely given in combination (2 or more), and children can get multiple vaccinations without overloading their system. There are vaccines that can temporarily cause mild symptoms like a fever, but the side effects usually don’t last long. It’s important to keep track of the vaccines your child needs to stay healthy. Children should be immunized according to the recommended immunization schedule.
Myth #4: Vaccines cause autism.
Fact: Some people have concerns that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might be linked to vaccines. Numerous comprehensive studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing ASD. These studies include those focused on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and on vaccines containing thimerosal. All of these studies focused on the question of whether getting too many vaccines results in a higher risk of autism and all showed that vaccines do not increase rates of autism.
Myth #5: Healthy people don’t need to be vaccinated for viruses like the flu.
Fact: Even if you’re healthy, you should get your annual flu shot. Vaccinated people have a reduced risk of getting a virus like the flu, and if they become sick, people who are vaccinated might have symptoms for fewer days.
The flu is extremely contagious, and every year, thousands of people die from influenza viruses. During the 2023-2024 flu season, the CDC estimated that the flu caused 40 million illnesses and 28,000 deaths. People most at risk for complications of the flu include older people, those with chronic conditions, pregnant women, children under 5 and people with weakened immune systems, according to the WHO.
Viruses like the flu spread quickly in crowded areas like daycare centers and schools, where droplets from someone sneezing or coughing can infect people standing close by. To prevent spreading and catching the flu, cover your mouth and nose and wash your hands frequently, especially during flu season.
Myth #6: My body protects itself against germs naturally, which is better than vaccines.
Fact: Our immune systems are indeed amazing. Usually, they fight off germs pretty effectively. However, even low-risk people can get severe complications of infection, and vaccines reduce the chances of that happening. Our federal health agencies carefully evaluate each vaccine to make sure it is “worth it” and only recommend those for which there is proven benefit over acquiring the disease “naturally”.
Myth #7: mRNA vaccines, like the Covid-19 vaccine, can change your DNA
Fact: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines “do not affect or interact with our DNA,” according to the CDC. The vaccine does not alter your DNA or come into contact with the part of our cells called the nucleus, where DNA lives. The vaccine uses messenger RNA, which shows the body how to boost the immune system to fight COVID-19. Those messenger RNA only travel as far as the cell’s cytoplasm—a gel or jelly-like substance sandwiched between the cell membrane and nucleus— to deliver instructions about how to fight COVID-19.
The bottom line?
Getting sick is inevitable but vaccines are an important way to reduce the severity of disease and protect your loved ones from unnecessary illness. Take control of your health by staying up-to-date on your immunizations, eating healthy foods, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, managing your stress and managing any underlying medical issues.
Remember, all Tufts Medicine patients can use myTuftsMed to chat with a clinician, view your immunization records, use our online symptom checker, book appointments, request and refill prescriptions and much more!
