Should Babies Receive Multiple Vaccines at the Same Time?
Vaccines are recommended for infants in the months after birth to protect them from serious diseases of early childhood. But some parents are worried about giving several vaccines at one time. Here is some information to address those concerns.
Why are so many vaccines recommended for infants early in life?
Newborns are protected from disease in their very early life by antibodies passed through the placenta or from breast milk from their mother. However, this protection is short-lived. Because newborns have the capability to have an immune response at the time of birth, vaccines are recommended for infants in the first 2 years. These recommended vaccines protect against serious life-threatening diseases. Many parents today may not even be aware of the dangers of these diseases as many are uncommon today due to the widespread use of vaccines.
Is it safe to give multiple vaccines at the same time or close together?
Parents may believe that the body’s immune system has a reduced response or that their child’s immune system is weakened in response to many vaccines. However, studies show that multiple vaccines use only a small fraction of an infant’s immune response. One estimate indicates that infants have the capability to respond fully to up to 10,000 vaccines at one time. The immune system can easily handle multiple vaccinations in combination or when given at the same time to achieve immunity to diseases.
When giving multiple vaccine injections at the same visit, your doctor will probably choose to give them in different arms or legs. Additionally, some vaccines are combined into one product to reduce the number of injections needed.
Is there an advantage to giving vaccines at the same time?
Yes! Giving vaccines at the same time decreases trips to the doctor’s office. It also reduces the chance of skipping a vaccine that could provide needed protection to diseases that children are exposed to in early childhood.
Summary
Newborns and infants have great capacity to have an appropriate immune response when given multiple vaccines together. Early vaccination against serious diseases is an important part of your child’s healthcare.