Vaccination is one of the major advances of today. Being safe from illnesses without getting exposed to them, is an important preventive step. It is a safeguard against fatal diseases and improves life functioning. However, lack of education and awareness has propelled a number of myths around vaccination. Here, we are clearing some of the myths and throwing light on the right information around vaccination.

1. Vaccination causes autism: The belief that mercury causes autism is ill-founded. Research has shown that there is no relationship between vaccination and conditions like autism. Vaccines do not cause autism which is a neurological disorder with marked behavioural characteristics impacting social and emotional development.
2. Vaccines are made of harmful substance: Vaccines contain some substances like formaldehyde, aluminium and mercury. Thimerosal is a variant of mercury which is not harmful and can be used in vaccines. It is not harmful for health. Methylmercury is a form of substance that is harmful for consumption but is not used in vaccines. Aluminium is available in some foods and is not harmful. It is completely safe to get vaccinated.
3. Herd immunity means I don't need to vaccinate: Many people think that since most of the people have already taken the vaccination, so they will not contract the illness anymore. It's the belief that if enough people are vaccinated it means that I won't contract the illness through transmission. While this may break the chain of transmission it does not make one immune to illness as the risk of transmission remains. If one has not taken the vaccination the possibility of catching the illness remains.
4. Immunity through natural recovery is better than vaccination: Natural recovery is about the body's capacity to fight foreign pathogens causing illness. But this is not true. It is important to get vaccinated as the formula is meant to strictly act against the specific virus or bacteria. Not taking the vaccine only increases the chances of catching the disease. Vaccines prevent exposure to the highly debilitating symptoms of the disease.
5. Vaccines have harmful side effects: Vaccines undergo numerous clinical trials before being made available for public use. Their effects are tested over varying periods of time. Some temporary side effects like mild fever, body pain or lethargy might make one feel sick for a short duration. These signs subside within a few days and basically reflect the body’s way of dealing with the illness through vaccines.
6. Can vaccines be given to pregnant women?: Yes, it is completely safe to administer vaccines to pregnant women. It helps in developing immunity against diseases like rubella, hepatitis, influenza, tetanus etc. It protects the mother and the baby from illness. Few vaccines like MMR and chickenpox can be given before or after but not during pregnancy.
7. Is taking more than one vaccine at the same time harmful for the immune system?: There is no harm to the immune system from taking multiple vaccines simultaneously. It reduces the number of visits to clinics, saves costs and has higher likelihood of completing vaccinations at a time. There are less pathogens in vaccination compared to common cold or sore throat.
8. It is not right to vaccinate children in early years: To the contrary, one must vaccinate their child in the early years to let the immunisation set in against the particular bacteria or virus. Delaying the vaccination process can put the child at increased risk of contracting the illness.
9. Vaccinations cause diseases they protect against.: Vaccines are immunizations for diseases. There can be inactive viruses which can signal the immune system to produce antibodies. The immune system produces antigens in order to protect against the virus or bacteria.
10. Vaccinated people cannot be affected by epidemics: It is possible for vaccinated people to get infected with the virus because vaccines are not all powerful. Their proportion is lower when compared to the unvaccinated population. These are some myths around vaccination. It is very important to keep oneself safe from life threatening diseases and illnesses. Vaccination can save the life of your loved one. It is suggested to remain cautious and get vaccinated timely.