Child neurologists are experts in childhood development and the pediatric nervous system. Through this expertise, we know that approved vaccines have an excellent safety profile and the anticipated benefits outweigh the risks. Further, childhood vaccines are critically important to reducing morbidity and mortality in children.1–3
The Child Neurology Society urges the federal government to maintain funding and access to the childhood vaccine schedule (put forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics) without restriction. We also call upon child neurologists to advocate for their patients, by helping parents, caregivers, and health care professionals keep children up to date on their immunizations.
Vaccines are among the most important advancements in medicine due to their effectiveness in reducing mortality.1–3 The diseases that vaccines prevent also uniquely impact children with neurological disorders. For example, children with neurological disorders are at increased risk of complications from influenza, pertussis or other respiratory pathogens.4 Furthermore, our patients with neuroimmunological disorders may have impaired immune responses that prevent them from being effectively immunized and result in dependence on herd immunity from the community.5–11
Child neurologists do not just take care of children who are at risk of contracting more severe infections, we also see what happens when neurotypical children suffer from vaccine preventable diseases. Once common and nearly eradicated infections like polio, re-emerging diseases like measles, and seasonal pathogens like influenza can all result in severe neurological complications which may lead to lifelong neurologic impairment.12–14 In fact, the majority of the vaccines which have historically been part of the routine childhood vaccine schedule prevent infections with potential neurologic consequences. As one example, bacterial meningitis, even with modern antibiotic treatment, can damage the brain resulting in hearing loss, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and death. Three forms of bacterial meningitis can be prevented with vaccines.15–21 Every pediatric neurologist has cared for children whose lives were dramatically altered by a preventable infection. Our goal is to reduce the number of children we see with preventable neurological disorders.
Child neurologists also encounter vaccine hesitancy due to concerns that vaccines cause neurological problems. As child neurologists, we see the wide spectrum of autism and its many known risk factors including specific genetic conditions, family history, neonatal injuries, and in utero exposures (such as congenital rubella syndrome—a vaccine preventable disease). We also know there are other causes not yet fully elucidated. However, the one exposure that has been highly studied and ruled out as a cause is vaccines.22–25 Numerous studies involving millions of children worldwide consistently show the same result—vaccines do not cause autism.22–25 While there can be rare neurological complications from vaccines, such as seizures and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, at a population level, the benefits from vaccines far outweigh the risks.15,26–31 Moreover, the risk of long-term neurological morbidity and mortality from vaccine hesitancy far exceeds any known rare risks from our current vaccination schedule.32–40 Supporting false claims, such as those that link vaccines and autism, damage the confidence of the public in the safety of vaccines and contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Research has shown that vaccine hesitancy has real, deleterious effects and can be directly shown to increase rates of vaccine preventable infections, and that promoting vaccine confidence is helpful in combating vaccine hesitancy.34,39,41–43 As child neurologists, we must follow the evidence.
The Child Neurology Society calls upon our nation’s leaders to protect children by ensuring broad access to essential vaccines.
References
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