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Fear that one's immune system will be compromised or overwhelmed by vaccination
There are usually two types of vaccination fears, which tend to be much greater than the actual risks involved. Both types of fear have been shown to influence vaccine hesitancy.
1) Fears related to suffering side effects (whether plausible or not). For example:
These fears can stem from or be magnified if individuals perceive vaccines to have toxic ingredients. Some commonly mentioned ones are:
2) Fear of the vaccination procedure itself, such as fear of needles.
This theme relates to a fear that one’s immune system will be compromised or harmed by a vaccine. It may include pseudoscientific theories such as:
It is reasonable to worry about how one’s body might react to medical treatments. Some people may be concerned that vaccines are being overused because other medicines such as antibiotics have sometimes been prescribed when they were not needed. All medicines can cause side effects, so it is valid to ask about whether they are being overused.
Dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals is most productive if it is guided by empathy, and an opportunity for the patient to affirm the reasons underlying their attitudes and to express understanding for that. That’s why it is important to understand the attitude roots behind people’s overt opinions. To affirm a person’s underlying attitude root does not mean we need to agree with the specifics of their argument. For example, we can acknowledge that:
It is reasonable to worry about how one’s body might react to medical treatments. Some people may be concerned that vaccines are being overused because other medicines such as antibiotics have sometimes been prescribed when they were not needed. All medicines can cause side effects, so it is valid to ask about whether they are being overused.
Medical and public health experts determine vaccination schedules based on how safe and effective vaccines are, weighed against the severity of the diseases they prevent. Experts consider all potential interactions and side effects when designing the schedule to protect against disease that can have severe consequences.
Based on a review of scientific evidence by the World Health Organization, we don’t see that receiving multiple vaccines at any age can weaken or harm our immune systems. In fact, vaccines work by strengthening the immune system. Vaccines train our immune systems to recognise viruses and to fight against them. Without vaccines, our immune systems risk being overloaded by trying to fight off infections without training.
Additional information:
Academic references:
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