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Multiple vaccines do not overload immune system |
Parents (and providers) may be concerned that children receive too many vaccines. Such concern may surround the misconception that multiple vaccines may overload the immune system. The following points may help if discussing this issue with parents:
- B and T cells develop around 14 weeks gestation and newborns can generate both humeral (antibody) and cellular (T & B cell) responses at the time of birth.
- From the time of birth an infant’s immune system responds to thousands of bacteria that immediately colonise its nose, throat and intestines.
- Newborns are capable of mounting protective immune responses to vaccines within hours of birth.
- It has been estimated that infants have a theoretical capacity to respond to more than 10,000 vaccines at any time.
- Even if 11 vaccines were given at one time, only about 0.1% of the immune system would be ‘used up’ – and this is soon replenished.
- The vaccines we give children now actually contain fewer antigens (immunogenic proteins and polysaccharides) than they did 20 or 40 years ago. For example, the cellular pertussis vaccine currently in use contains only 3-5 antigens, as compared with the previously used whole cell pertussis vaccine that contained about 3000 antigens.
- In some ways, vaccines actually prevent ‘weakening’ of the immune system by preventing diseases that can lead to a secondary infection, such as pneumonia following influenza, or group A strep infections following chickenpox.
* Information from NCIRS newsletter and article by P.A. Offit, J. Quarles, M.A. Gerber ‘Do vaccines overwhelm or weaken the infant’s immune system?’ Paediatrics 2002;109:124-129.
Your patients can get answers to common immunisation myths by visiting Spike’s website at www.vaccination.org.au
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