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When it comes to vaccines - why are people talking about 'Immune compromise' ?

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:

  • Autism.
  • Cancer.
  • Autoimmune diseases.
  • Neurodevelopmental conditions.
  • Death.

These fears can stem from or be magnified if individuals perceive vaccines to have toxic ingredients. Some commonly mentioned ones are:

  • Formaldehyde.
  • Glycerin.
  • Thimerosal.
  • Aluminium.

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:

  • Too many vaccines overload the immune system.
  • Children are too young so vaccines will harm their underdeveloped immune systems.

Onko se lainkaan totta?

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.

Mitä voisin sanoa jollekulle, joka uskoo vakaasti tähän uskomukseen?

Potilaiden ja terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten välinen vuoropuhelu on tuottavinta, jos sitä ohjaa empatia ja potilaalla on mahdollisuus saada vahvistusta asenteidensa taustalla oleville syille ja kokea olevansa ymmärretty. Siksi on tärkeää ymmärtää yleisten mielipiteiden takana olevat taustasyyt. Ihmisen asenteen taustalla olevan taustasyyn vahvistaminen ei tarkoita, että meidän olisi oltava samaa mieltä hänen väitteensä kaikista yksityiskohdista. Voimme esimerkiksi tunnustaa, että

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.



Tämän (osittaisen) vahvistamisen jälkeen voidaan ryhtyä korjaamaan potilaan väitteen tiettyä väärinkäsitystä.

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.

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