Living Healthy 2 Are vaccines safe for my child? Yes, they are safe. Millions of children safely receive vaccines each year. As an emergency room doctor, I see more serious illnesses in children who were not vaccinated than in children who had rare reactions to a vaccine. It saddens me when a sick baby comes into the emergency room in the middle of the night. It’s even scarier when the child is not protected by vaccines. Vaccines protect kids from many diseases. Some of those diseases can be especially dangerous for young kids. What are the side effects of vaccines? The usual side effects we see are minor, like low-grade fever, fussiness or soreness where the vaccine was given. These side effects usually last a few days and go away on their own. Can vaccines overload my baby’s immune system? No. Babies are exposed to thousands of germs every day after they are born. The germs have antigens that cause a baby’s immune system to start protecting them. Vaccines also have antigens, but only a tiny amount. Babies are exposed to more antigens in their everyday environment, so vaccines could never overload a baby’s immune system. Why do vaccines start so early? The youngest children have the highest risk for complications, hospitalizations or death from preventable diseases. Kids can develop strong immune systems from vaccines and be protected from serious illnesses. At work, when a sick kid comes in, I try to do what is best for them as a doctor. But at home, I’m Dad, and hearing my kids cry breaks my heart. My six kids at home have all been vaccinated, so I understand how hard it can be on parents to take their babies to get vaccines so early in life, but I also understand why it is so important. Ask the doctor Dr. Omar Guzmán is the Chief Health Equity Officer at Central California Alliance for Health. He is a boardcertified emergency medicine physician, born and raised in the Central Valley. What to know about vaccines for children
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