Concerns over vaccination seems to have permeated society, and parents have many questions about the safety of vaccines. One important question is whether vaccinations strain or weaken children’s immune systems and are therefore harmful to them. Roma Schmitz and her colleagues from the Robert Koch Institute investigated this research question in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. The original full-text study is available for free for an undetermined amount of time; check the end of this report for a download link.
In their study, the authors compare the occurrence of infections and allergies in vaccinated and unvaccinated children and adolescents. These include bronchitis, eczema, colds, and gastrointestinal infections. The researchers’ data are based on the results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS).
The evaluation showed that unvaccinated children and adolescents differ from their vaccinated peers merely in terms of the frequency of vaccine preventable diseases. These include pertussis, mumps, or measles. As expected, the risk of contracting these diseases is substantially lower in vaccinated children and adolescents.
Material adapted from Deutsches Aerzteblatt International.
Reference
Schmitz R, Poethko-Müller C, Reiter S, & Schlaud M. Vaccination status and health in children and adolescents – findings of the German health interview and examination survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Dtsch Arztebl Int 2011; 108(7): 99–104.
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