A new study found that immunization of children against many infections agents is one of the greatest health achievements of this century. Vaccines have eliminated smallpox infection around the world; have also reduced the occurrences of polio diphtheria, tetanus, measles, and invasive
Haemophilus influenza infections, worldwide. Children immunizations prevent 3 million deaths in children every year globally. Regardless of this achievement, some parents refuse to immunize their children. Parents may have many reasons for refusing immunization. Some parents may object to immunization on religious or philosophical grounds, some may object to what seems to be a painful assault on their child, and others may believe that the benefits of immunization do not justify the risks to their child. Many commonly held beliefs about the risks of immunization are not supported by available data, and they frequently originate from the unsupported claims of organizations that are critical of immunization.
At present, there are no data to conclude that childhood vaccines (and in particular hepatitis B vaccine) pose a serious health risk or justify a change in current immunization practice.
(Pediatric Infect Disease J. 2005 Nov; 24(11):953-61
Retrieved from http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/115/5/1428
