Frequently Asked Questions about Vaccines

Why is vaccination so important?

Vaccination is a proven effective and safe way for protecting children and maintaining immunity against some infectious diseases. Following vaccination, the child who received the vaccine is protected. In addition, by reducing the spread of disease, the child's family and consequently the community where the child belongs is also protected.

Can vaccines cause the disease they protect against?

Vaccines are able to protect people by stimulating the immune system to act against disease-causing microorganisms. The immune system is trained to respond to the viruses or bacteria that are contained in vaccines.

To make sure that we don't get sick, viruses and bacteria contained in vaccines are either already killed (inactivated) or weakened (live attenuated). If a person has a normal immune system, s/he will generate protection in the form of antibodies.

However, for those with impaired immune systems (for example, HIV patients or those undergoing chemotherapy), it is important to get a doctor's advise, as even the weakened viruses and bacteria in live attenuated vaccines may cause disease in this special group.

Why vaccinate if I am healthy?

When you are vaccinated, imagine your body has a pool of good soldiers ready to stop or attack germs that when it enters and spreads in the body, will cause havoc that result to illness or even death. Vaccination is a convenient and safe measure to protect you, your loved ones and the community from vaccine preventable diseases.

Is natural immunity from catching a disease better than vaccination?

There are 2 ways wherein immunity can be achieved -- active and passive immunity. Passive immunity is achieved through the transfer of antibodies. Active immunity occurs when the body itself is made to produce antibodies. This is what happens when we catch a disease or we get vaccinated.

Catching the disease does produce long-term natural immunity after just one actual infection. It also exposes the patient to the possible complications of having the disease. Let us take varicella as an example. One of the possible complications of varicella is pneumonia. If you get the varicella infection, you may get the pneumonia as well.

In contrast, getting vaccinated also produces active immunity after completing the series (usually 2 or 3 doses of the vaccine). To review, vaccination involves getting exposed to weakened or inactivated parts of microbes, which in turn makes our body work to produce antibodies. In this light, the immunity we get from vaccination carries less risk of both having the disease and experiencing complications of the disease.

Aren't babies too young for lots of vaccinations?

That is not true, in fact usual schedule of babies for routine vaccination is when they receive multiple vaccines especially at the first few months of life.

Multiple vaccines are allowed and needed for their protection.

Can I get vaccinated even if I have a chronic disease?

People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and other chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, liver or kidneys, are at higher risk of acquiring certain diseases such as pneumococcal disease, influenza, or hepatitis B, among others, because of a weaker immune system.

As such, it is highly recommended that they get vaccinated to prevent the development of complications, hospitalization, or even death from vaccine-preventable diseases.

It is best to seek advice from your doctor as to what and when these vaccines can be given.

Are vaccines safe during pregnancy?

Vaccines are an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Certain vaccines are safe and recommended before, during, and after pregnancy to help keep mothers and their babies healthy.

It is recommended that a pregnant woman should get Tdap vaccine against tetanus, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough; and an inactivated flu vaccine during each pregnancy. The antibodies mothers develop in response to these vaccines not only protect them, but also cross the placenta and help protect their babies from serious infection early in life.

If you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your health care provider about any vaccines you might need beforehand.

Are vaccines safe during breastfeeding?

Vaccines play an important role in both the mother and child's well-being. Majority of vaccines are not transferred in human milk and therefore, do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or their babies.

For breastfeeding mothers, we recommend consulting your doctor for any concerns on vaccinations while nursing.

Can Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine cause Autism?

No!

The cause of autism is still unknown. Some studies showed it could be due to a genetic mutation which could be inherited or environmental factors. Researchers are looking into other factors like viral infections, medications or complications during pregnancy. Autism could even occur spontaneously.

The journal Lancet has retracted the paper that ignited an international crisis of confidence in the safety of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine when its lead author suggested a link between the vaccine and autism.

Epidemiologic studies have found no association of MMR vaccine with increaed risk of autism.

MMR vaccine is safe. Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps or rubella.

What is in a vaccine?

Vaccines contain weakened or killed bacteria or viruses that stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies which provide protection against specific diseases. Other ingredients that may ne incorporated in small amounts serve to keep the vaccine safe from outside bacteria, maintain stability, and in some, help induce a stronger immune response. Current vaccines contain ingredients that have been proven to be safe and effective.

Is being exposed to COVID a contraindication to vaccination? When will you vaccinate a child exposed to COVID?

Case: A 1 year old child was exposed to her father who was COVID-positive. The father was isolated, and the child is being observed for symptoms.

Being a close contact of a confirmed COVID case is not a contraindication to vaccination. Observe the child for signs and symptoms for 14 days. If the child does not develop symptoms of COVID, the child can be vaccinated after 14 days of quarantine.

If the child becomes symptomatic within the observation period, manage the child as COVID-19. May resume vaccination once the child recovers.

When will you advise pneumonia and flu vaccination after being hospitalized for pneumonia?

Both vaccines can be given at any time after the patient has recovered from pneumonia or during the convalescence period. The vaccines can be given at the earliest opportunity when the patient’s clinical condition has improved, e.g. during the first post-hospitalization follow-up clinic or home visit. (Ref: Ezeanolue E, Harriman K, Hunter P, Kroger A, Pellegrini C. General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization. Best Practices Guidance of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).Chapter 4. Contraindications and Precautions. [www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/downloads/general-recs.pdf]. Update 20 Nov 2020.)

If on antibiotics is it ok to get vaccinated?

In general, antibiotics do not interfere with development of an immune response after vaccination. However, oral antibacterial drugs might interfere with Ty21a oral typhoid vaccine, and certain antiviral drugs might interfere with varicella-containing vaccines and Live attenuated Influenza vaccine (LAIV4). (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Hamborsky J,

Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. 13th ed. Chapter 2. General Recommendations on Immunization. D.C. Public Health Foundation, 2015.

Aren’t pediatricians aware of all DOH campaigns regarding outbreak response? I hope that during the SIAs for Measles this coming Feb 2021. The pediatricians should inform their patients about the campaign and its safety.

The Philippine Pediatric Society is informing all its members every time there is a DOH campaign for revaccination and is advising them to support the program.

Is it allowed for different vaccine brands to be given if it was already started from a private clinic and continued at the Local Health Center?

Limited data are available about the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of administering vaccines from different manufacturers. Although it is preferable that successive doses of vaccines in a series come from the same manufacturer, if this is not possible or if the manufacturer of doses given previously is unknown, providers should administer the vaccine that they have available to continue or complete the series. This will prevent missed opportunities for immunization. (Ref: Ezeanolue E, Harriman K, Hunter P, Kroger A, Pellegrini C. General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization. Best Practices Guidance of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).Chapter 3. Timing and Spacing of Immunobiologics [www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/downloads/general-recs.pdf]. Update 20 Nov 2020.)

Regarding scar formation after BCG vaccination , what could happen after 1-3 months? What type /kind of reaction?

After approximately 2 weeks , a small, red , slightly tender swelling will appear at the injection site. This will develop into a small abscess after another 2 weeks and will then ulcerate, heal and form a scar over the next few weeks. The time course from vaccination to scar formation will take about 12 weeks.

BCG vaccination activates the host cell mediated immunity through an innocuous primary infection . (Source: Tuberculosis in Infancy and Childhood. 4th edition 2016. Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc. Committee on Handbook on Childhood Tuberculosis.)