Some candidates in 2nd GOP debate spew much vaccine misinformation

Some candidates in 2nd GOP debate spew much vaccine misinformation

Statements about immunizations made during the second Republican presidential debate in California this month are inaccurate and dangerous for Ohio families.

According to the 2014 National Immunization Survey, a little more than two-thirds of Ohio’s children are fully protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. While those rates rose slightly from the year before, they are still well below what is needed to protect our children from preventable and potentially deadly diseases. Here are the facts:

Immunizations do not cause autism. A wealth of scientific evidence shows vaccines are safe and prevent serious disease.

Immunizations do not overload the immune system. Today’s childhood vaccine panel has one quarter of the number of immune-stimulating “antigens” that it had 50 years ago.

Delayed schedules are not necessary. Immunizations are studied extensively to determine the age when children will have a healthy immune response. Delaying immunizations only increases the length of time that the child is unprotected.

Like any medical treatment, immunizations do have some side effects, but these are usually mild and brief. The risks of dangerous and permanent side effects from diseases are much, much higher.

Simply put, when uninformed people perpetuate myths about immunizations, they are putting our children’s lives in danger.

Immunizations work. Immunizations are safe. I urge parents with questions or concerns to talk to their pediatrician.

Dr. Andrew Garner, Columbus

Dr. Andrew Garner is president of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.