Debunking Vaccine Myths and Misconceptions
James Grant, M.D.
| 3 min read
James D. Grant, M.D., is executive vice president an...
Key Takeaways
- Triggered in part by the rapid spread of misinformation and the rising mistrust of the medical system fueled by that misinformation, vaccine hesitancy has increased since the days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Myths that support the notion that vaccines contain harmful ingredients that damage the body, for example, are untrue.
- Parents with questions or concerns about childhood vaccines should visit a host of trustworthy websites, as well as talk to their child’s primary care physician.
Measles, a highly contagious virus that is dangerous for babies and children, was declared eliminated in the United States in the year 2000.
Now in 2025, close to 1,300 measles cases have been reported in the U.S., the most since the early 1990s. Measles cases have been confirmed in 38 states this year, including Michigan with 18 confirmed cases so far this year.
Cases are rising largely because vaccination rates are down. Of the nearly 1,300 people with confirmed measles cases, 92% are unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown.
Overall, childhood vaccination rates are down and exemptions from school vaccination requirements are up. A Detroit News analysis found in 2024 in Michigan, 6.2% of students in required groups got waivers exempting them from at least one vaccine, up from 3.4% in 2020.
Correcting myths and misinformation
Triggered in part by the rapid spread of misinformation and the rising mistrust of the medical system fueled by that misinformation, vaccine hesitancy has increased since the days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To help provide concerned parents with reliable information, here are five truths about the most common childhood vaccine misperceptions.
Myth no.1: Vaccines contain harmful ingredients that damage the body.
Truth no.1: Thimerosal – a mercury-containing compound – has not been present in any routine childhood vaccine in the U.S. since 2001. Some vaccines contain tiny amounts of aluminum salts, used to improve the immune response to lessen the needed quantity or doses of the vaccine. Aluminum salts are found naturally in water and food in higher amounts. Multiple ongoing studies have confirmed the safety of these ingredients.
Myth no. 2: Side effects from vaccines are worse than the illness it protects against.
Truth no. 2: Most people who receive vaccines experience no side effects or mild, temporary side effects. Serious side effects are extremely rare. Vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety and side effects before they are approved for use in the general population.
Myth no.3: No one gets that disease anymore, so a vaccine isn’t necessary.
Truth no. 3: The elimination of a disease is exactly why people should get vaccinated. For example, measles is a disease that was declared eliminated in the U.S. 25 years ago. As more people are declining the vaccination, measles cases have gone up – at rates not seen in more than 30 years. Herd immunity, which occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to an infectious disease due to vaccination or infection, is much less likely with current vaccine rates.
Myth no.4: Getting the vaccine will cause individuals to get the disease it’s supposed to prevent.
Truth no.4: Vaccines do not cause the disease. Rather, vaccines train the immune system to recognize and properly respond to the illness or infection. It is this immune response that protects the body if exposed to the disease in the future. When individuals experience mild side effects after receiving a vaccine, it is the body’s immune response in action.
Myth no.5: Vaccines cause autism.
Truth no.5: Multiple large studies of hundreds of thousands of children have found no link between vaccines and autism. In fact, the original idea came from a 1998 paper describing observations in only 12 children. The observation did not include a control group or control period – a basic standard in scientific studies. That paper has been retracted and debunked by at least 16 subsequent large-group research studies. The author was stripped of his medical license.
More vaccine information
Parents looking for trusted, objective sources for vaccine information can go to these sites:
- Healthychildren.org
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines
- World Health Organization
Parents with questions or concerns about childhood vaccines should talk with their child’s primary care physician.
James D. Grant, M.D. is executive vice president and chief medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more health tips and information, visit MIBlueDaily.com.
Photo credit: Getty Images
