BABY
Are Babies Getting Too Many Vaccines?
The idea that too many vaccines overwhelm a baby's system is pretty much an urban legend.
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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The idea that too many vaccines overwhelm a baby's immune system sounds logical, but it is a myth. No evidence supports this belief, which gained popularity at a time when autism rates and the number of baby vaccines had both risen. But of course, coincidental timing does not prove cause!
While babies do get more vaccines today, they actually do not have more ‘stuff’ injected into their bodies. In 1980, the DPT shot was a blenderised bacteria soup of around 1,000 different illness particles or antigens. And, the polio vaccine babies used to get was a live virus that actually triggered a minute case of the disease to prevent a more serious one.
Today, newborn vaccines are way, way more purified. The current DPT vaccine contains only three bacterial antigens and the polio vaccine no longer includes any live virus. These advances create a win-win situation: Vaccines guard kids against many more illnesses AND even though the number of vaccines has increased, the number of illness particles being injected into their bodies…is lower than ever before!
These newborn vaccines are recommended for babies at 1-2 months old:
At 4 months, a baby should receive the following newborn vaccines:
While we are all eagerly awaiting a COVID-19 vaccine, the wait might even longer before we have enough research on a COVID-19 vaccine for newborn babies and toddlers.
I often hear, ‘how many vaccines can my baby get at once?’ Some parents worry that a baby cannot handle several vaccines given at once. That is hardly the case. The immune system is a superb, multitasking, fighting machine! Every day thousands of threats strike at our little ones: from bacterial invaders to swarms of viruses to offending dietary proteins, damaged cells, irritating pollen, and even tiny cancers. The ability to thwart many mild attacks concurrently—including tolerating multiple vaccinations—is exactly what the immune system was built to do.
In fact, a new theory suggests that allergies and asthma may be on the rise in part because we have made the world TOO clean. It makes sense if you think about it. Early ‘exercise’ helps a baby's immune system achieve tip-top fighting condition!
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
