Fact: An unvaccinated child can infect others who are vaccinated or unable to be vaccinated.
Why the Myth Exists
This myth is founded on a couple of misunderstandings about vaccine advocacy. First, that vaccines claim to provide 100% protection, and second that parents who promote vaccines are only worried about their own children.
Examples Found Online
The Real Deal: What the Evidence Shows
Vaccines do not provide 100% protection against disease. Sometimes vaccinated people still catch the disease, though it is typically a milder experience than if they had not been immunized. Most vaccines are shown to be effective about 80-95% of the time.
Children too young to be vaccinated are at risk. There are a variety of other people who cannot be vaccinated for various reasons, such as those undergoing immune suppression therapy, and those with a serious allergy to vaccine ingredients.
Most disease outbreaks are started by unvaccinated people. This typically occurs when vaccination rates for a given region drop below a certain percentage, and herd immunity breaks down. Often, an unvaccinated individual travels to a region with a lower vaccination rate, and brings a disease back home with them.
And vaccine advocates don’t want your children to suffer and die from vaccine-preventable disease either.
References and Further Reading
- “Who is at Risk from Unvaccinated Kids” by Vincent Iannelli, MD | verywell
- “Measles Outbreaks 2015” by Vincent Iannelli, MD | verywell
Science-Based Memes and Screenshots
- Source: Refutations to Antivaccine Memes
- Source: Refutations to Antivaccine Memes
- Source: Refutations to Antivaccine Memes
- Source: HistioMom
- Source: Refutations to Antivaccine Memes