The TRUTH About Vaccines

Geralyn M. Prosswimmer MD FAAP

Published May 22, 2008

Geralyn M. Prosswimmer MD FAAPThere has been tremendous media attention to the topic of vaccines recently, yet most of it is sensational and some of it is frankly false.  This presents parents with challenges in deciding about vaccines for their children.

The pediatricians and nurse practitioners at Hunterdon Pediatric Associates have carefully and thoroughly studied the topic of childhood vaccines.  We believe our advice is sound, well researched, and has the health and safety of your child as our top priority. 

We firmly believe that vaccinating children and adolescents is the single most important health-promoting strategy we can offer.  Extraordinary scientists and physicians have spent decades researching and testing vaccines.  Millions of doses have been safely given, preventing disabling disease and death. 

In many ways, vaccination is a victim of its own success.  Many young parents have never seen the diseases we aim to prevent.  Lack of familiarity with the devastation of these diseases leads people to undervalue the chance to prevent them.
Repeated examples around the world show the consequence of changes in vaccine schedules - disease re-surfaces and deaths result.  There is no excuse for this tragedy.

WE ADVISE YOU TO IMMUNIZE YOUR CHILD ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES PUBLISHED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS (AAP). 

We firmly believe that:

  • Vaccines are effective in preventing serious potentially fatal diseases.
  •  Vaccines are safe.
  •  VACCINES DO NOT CAUSE AUTISM
  •  THIMEROSAL (mercury preservative) DOES NOT CAUSE AUTISM or any other disease
  •  The recommended vaccine schedule is the best schedule for immunizing children
    •  Delayed schedules do NOT improve safety
    •  Delayed schedules expose children to higher risk of vaccine-preventable disease
    •  We DO NOT RECOMMEND delaying vaccines
  • Separating components of MMR vaccine does NOT improve safety
    • There is NO evidence whatsoever that separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are safer. 
    • Individual components are not always available
    • Delays expose children to the risk of getting these serious diseases
      • Outbreaks of measles are occurring in several states in the USA right now
      • Measles may cause death or disability
  • Giving multiple vaccines at one time is NOT too much stress for the child’s body
    • The number of antigens (molecules that stimulate the immune system) we inject on our current vaccine schedule is far less than the number we injected years ago, when vaccines were less purified
    • The number of antigens in your child’s system after immunization is fewer than the number in a cut or scrape, or the number on many pacifiers
  • There is no “risk-free” choice in deciding about immunizing children.
  • Vaccines have risk.  The risk is tiny
  • Vaccine preventable disease has risk.  The risk is large

Counting on other parents to immunize their children, thereby reducing your child’s risk of infection, is unfair and unacceptable.

If you have questions about immunization talk to your physician.  Dr. Prosswimmer is a board-certified pediatrician at Hunterdon Pediatric Associates Sand Hill office in Flemington.  To schedule an appointment call 908-782-6700.

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