Reasons Why Parents Don’t Vaccinate - And Why They Should

Today, there are still parents who do not wish to vaccinate their children. Their reluctance towards vaccination is worrying as it may cause vaccine-preventable diseases to resurface among children. 

In a journal report titled “Exploring the Reasons Behind Parental Refusal of Vaccines”,  there are 4 main reasons why parents are refusing vaccines for their kids¹.

The 4 reasons are:

• Religion
• Personal beliefs or philosophies
• Worry about its safety
• The need to get more information from healthcare providers

Parental concerns about vaccines in each category led to different responses: from parents who completely rejected all vaccines to those who delayed vaccinations.

But since a lack of information was one of the reasons cited by parents for them to be able to make responsible immunisation decisions for their children, that is something we hope to address with this article.

Here’s what you need to know about vaccine-preventable diseases²

Firstly, parents should know that there are diseases that are preventable with certain precautionary measures, and if the child were to still contract, would likely be less severe. These are the diseases that have vaccines available for parents to consider protecting their kids against: 

• Tuberculosis (TB) – This disease can cause serious infections such as meningitis and spread to other organs³. 
• Diphtheria – Toxins released by bacteria may lead to blocked airways⁴.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) – Can cause whooping cough and lack of oxygen to the brain⁵.
• Tetanus – Bacterial poisoning that can cause cramps in the muscles of the body and affects the ability to open the jaw⁶.
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) – This bacterium can cause infections of the lungs (pneumonia), respiratory tract and neuritis (meningitis)².
• Hepatitis B – This virus can cause severe damage to the liver and increases the risk of the individual getting liver cancer in the future².
• Polio – This virus can cause paralysis and even death².
• Measles – This virus can cause fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, infections of the brain (encephalitis) and lungs (pneumonia)⁷.
• Mumps – This virus can cause viral meningitis and infection of testicles (orchitis)⁸.
• Rubella – This virus can cause fever, rash, nausea and mild conjunctivitis⁹.
• Pneumococcus – This bacteria can cause severe diseases like meningitis or milder infections like sinusitis or ear infections².
• Rotavirus – This virus can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration².
• Human Papillomavirus – This virus can cause cervical cancer and genital warts².
• Varicella (Chickenpox) – This virus can cause a blister like rash and fever, which can also cause shingles later as adults if the virus reactivates¹⁰.
• Influenza  – Influenza A can cause epidemics of flu diseases or flu season¹¹.
• Meningococcal – This bacteria can cause deadly infections of the lining of the brain, spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream¹². 
• Hepatitis A – This virus can cause short term infection of the liver¹³.

The Benefits and Importance of Vaccines That Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that vaccination has greatly reduced the effects of infectious diseases¹⁴ and this is something that cannot be ignored.

Yes, vaccines are getting more public attention in recent times and specifically in regards to its efficacy and effectiveness.  

That is why parents must consider the benefits of getting their children vaccinated over the 4 reasons that were cited in the aforementioned study.

Vaccines Can Help Avoid Disease Complications¹⁵

A vaccine is effective in helping to protect an individual if it is given prior to exposure. It works by imitating an infection which helps teach our immune system how to fight off future infections¹⁵. 

The main purpose of immunisation is to help prevent disease and to help protect against complications arising from the infection. 

Along the lines of wanting to know more knowledge about vaccines, we’re here to talk about the different types of vaccines available so parents can further understand what they are and what they do.

The Different Types of Vaccines¹⁵

#1: Live attenuated vaccine

Live vaccines are made from bacteria or viruses that are weakened, but can still trigger the body to create immune-building reactions similar to natural infections¹⁵.

#2: Inactivated vaccine (Killed vaccine)

Vaccines made from the disease-carrying bacteria or virus that is inactivated or killed during the process of creating the vaccine¹⁵. 

#3: Toxoid vaccine

Vaccines made from weakened toxins which are called toxoids. Our bodies will learn how to fight off the natural toxins after being exposed to the vaccine containing the toxoid¹⁵.

#4: Subunit Vaccines

Vaccines are made from specific parts of a virus or bacterium called subunits, using only essential antigens and not the entire germ¹⁵.  

#5: mRNA Vaccine

Vaccines that use laboratory-created mRNA to teach our cells how to produce spike proteins. It triggers an immune response when our body recognizes that this spike protein does not belong in the body and therefore produces antibodies to fight off the infection¹⁶. 

If the reason on your mind for not getting your child vaccinated was because of lack of information, we hope this article was able to shed more light on the topic. Another thing to help you along with understanding vaccines better is to ask your paediatrician about it at your next visit.

MY-ROT-00231 Aug/2022

REFERENCES

1. Mckee C, Bohannon K. Exploring the Reasons Behind Parental Refusal of Vaccines. The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2016;21(2).  
2. UNICEF. Vaccines and the diseases they prevent. Available From: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/vaccines-and-diseases-they-prevent. Last Accessed 24 August 2022.
3. Mayo Clinic. Tuberculosis. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250. Last Accessed 20 August 2022. 
4. Mayo Clinic. Diphtheria. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351897. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.
5. National Health Service Inform. Whooping cough. Available From: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/whooping-cough. Last Accessed 24 August 2022. 
6. Mayo Clinic. Tetanus. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tetanus/symptoms-causes/syc-20351625. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.  
7. Mayo Clinic. Measles. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.
8. National Health Services. Mumps – Complications. Available From: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/complications/. Last Accessed 24 August 2022.
9. World Health Organization. Rubella. Available From: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rubella. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.
10. PORTAL MyHEALTH. Chickenpox. Available From: https://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/chickenpox/.   Last Accessed 20 August 2022.   
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Types of Influenza Viruses. Available From https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/types.htm. Last Accessed 21 August 2022. 
12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal Disease. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html. Last Accessed 24 August 2022.  
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is hepatitis A – FAQ. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm#overview. Last Accessed 22 August 2022.  
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common Questions About Vaccines. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/FAQs.html. Last Accessed 24 August 2022. 
15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding How Vaccines Work. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/understanding-vacc-work.html. Last Accessed 22 August 2022. 
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.