• Immunization Program Main
• Changes to Universal Vaccine Purchasing
• For Schools and Parents
• Immunizations
• For Health Care Providers
• Vaccines
• Forms and Publications

---

• Department of Health Home
• Community and Family Health Main
• Office of Maternal and Child Health Main
   

---

 

Vaccine Safety

• General Vaccine Safety Information Links
• Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS)
• Links for Parents and Providers
• MMR Vaccine and Autism: No evidence of a link
• Multiple Immunizations
• Thimerosal

General Vaccine Safety Information Links

• Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a cooperative program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration that monitors vaccine safety. VAERS is a post-marketing safety surveillance program. It collects information about possible side effects that occur after a United States-licensed vaccine is given.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System Web site provides a nationwide mechanism by which adverse events following immunization may be reported, analyzed, and made available to the public. The VAERS Web site also provides a vehicle for disseminating vaccine safety-related information to parents/guardians, health care providers, vaccine manufacturers, state vaccine programs, and others.

Links for Parents and Providers

• Evaluating Immunization Information on the Web
• Immunization Action Coalition's Vaccine Safety Resources
• CDC's Six Common Misconceptions
• Canadian Study on Prevalence and Links of Pervasive Developmental Disorders with Immunizations
• Thimerosal Content in Some United States Licensed Vaccines from John Hopkins University
• Links to Prescribing Information (Package Inserts) for Some United States Licensed Vaccines from John Hopkins University

MMR Vaccine and Autism: No evidence of a link

• There is no evidence that vaccines cause autism or any other behavioral disorders.
• Experts agree that autism is most likely a genetic disorder that occurs before birth. Medical researchers have found biological differences in the brain of children with autism or autism-like disorders.
• Typical symptoms of autism are first noted after one year of age. Recent research shows that subtle symptoms are detectable as early as four months of age. The MMR vaccine is first given between the ages of 12 and 15 months, so the apparent onset may simply be an expected, but unrelated, chance occurrence.
• Childhood immunizations are the most effective way to prevent disease. Safety is monitored for all vaccines.
• Vaccine side effects are extremely rare. A child’s risk of developing health problems from an immunization is far less than the risk of having complications from the disease itself.
• Vaccine surveillance systems are in place to identify potential issues with vaccines before they become a problem. Several of these systems have been looked at for evidence to show a link between vaccines, particularly MMR and autism. No links have been found in any of the reporting systems to date.
  
  Links to More Information on MMR Vaccine and Autism
  • A Scientific Review of MMR Vaccine and Autism
  • Institute of Medicine Report on MMR and Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • National Autistic Society 

Multiple Immunizations

Children today receive more vaccinations because there are more vaccines available to prevent serious and sometimes deadly diseases. However, the amount of antigen (the substance that causes an immune response) in each vaccine is smaller than those in previous vaccines. Available data show that no side effects are associated with giving several immunizations at the same time. More Information on the Safety of Multiple Immunizations.

Thimerosal

Thimerosal has been used as a preservative in some vaccines since the 1930s. No harmful effects, other than local reactions, have been linked to thimerosal. As a precautionary measure to reduce overall exposure to mercury in the environment, it has been reduced or eliminated from vaccines. Except for some flu vaccines, all vaccines routinely given to young children are available without thimerosal.

• Washington State Vaccine Program: Current Vaccines and Thimerosal Content (PDF, 84 KB) Oct. 27, 2008
• Thimerosal Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 22 KB)

Links to More Information on Thimerosal

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease - Frequently Asked Questions on Mercury, Thimerosal, and Vaccine Safety
• Parent/PublicFrequently Asked Questions: Legal Limits of Mercury-Containing Vaccines (PDF, 34 KB)
• Provider Frequently Asked Questions: Implementation of Mercury Limits in Vaccines (PDF, 43 KB)
• Availability of Thimerosal-Free Vaccines
• Minnesota Department of Health Thimerosal & Vaccines Fact Sheet

 

Last Update : 12/15/2009 01:23 PM