You’ve probably heard the expression “tried and true.” It’s the perfect way to describe vaccines. They’re not some risky new thing. They’ve been tried over centuries and proven to be truly safe and effective.
Did you know that:
- As far back as the 1400s, healthy people in Asia and Africa allowed themselves to be infected with a milder form of smallpox, giving them immunity against the deadlier form of the disease.
- In the 1700s, an English doctor discovered that infecting people with “cowpox” protected them from the deadlier smallpox. (It led to the creation of the word “vaccine,” derived from vacca, the Latin word for cow.)
- In 1980, the world was officially declared free of smallpox. A disease that killed hundreds of millions of people throughout history, no longer exists thanks to vaccines.
That is the lifesaving power of immunization. A disease, smallpox, that at one time killed more than 90% of babies who contracted it, is no longer a threat. It’s not a stretch to say vaccines are one of the greatest public health inventions of all time.
But the “true” part of the “tried and true” expression is where some people are getting hung up these days. With all the messages we are bombarded with on a daily basis, it can be hard to discern fact from fiction. Like the misconception that vaccines cause autism. Many scientific studies over many years have debunked this idea.
I believe parents truly want the best for their children. With measles and whooping cough now on the rise among kids, it’s absolutely crucial that parents consider the full body of evidence on the safety of vaccines. Not to be swayed by isolated anecdotes or fearmongering. Instead, rely on reputable organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. These organizations have rigorously evaluated decades of scientific research to provide evidence-based recommendations on which vaccines are best for kids.
I can personally speak to the tried-and-true nature of vaccines. As a dad and as someone who started out in medicine more than 40 years ago, I’ve personally witnessed how important vaccines are. In my time as a pediatrician, I’ve been entrusted with caring for more than 40,000 patients. If there were an issue with the safety or effectiveness of vaccines, I certainly would have seen it by now.
Let’s count ourselves lucky that our children live in a time when there are more than 20 safe and effective vaccines to protect them against dangerous diseases. Every year, those vaccines prevent millions of hospital visits, disabilities and death. They are allowing us to live longer and better than ever before. Vaccines are indeed one of the greatest public health inventions of all time. Sticking with this tried-and-true approach is the surest way to keep ourselves, and our loved ones, safe.
Marc Gorelick, MD
President, chief executive officer
Marc Gorelick, MD, is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) at Children’s Minnesota. He is deeply committed to advocacy issues that impact children’s health, sustainability and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
Learn more about his book, “Saving Our Kids: An ER Doc’s Common-Sense Solution to the Gun Crisis.” All proceeds from the book will be invested back into Children’s Minnesota gun violence prevention work.
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