Discuss the risks of immunization.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

As with any medication, vaccines have risks for causing negative effects. These are classified into two different types.  An adverse event includes any event that occurs following an immunization. This includes true adverse reactions plus reactions that are only coincidental to the vaccine. An adverse reaction is an event that is actually caused by the vaccine and may also be referred to as a side effect of the vaccine.  

Examples of adverse reactions would be non-specific systemic reactions such as fever or headache, allergic reactions to a component in the vaccine, or the rashes that can be seen with the live measles or chickenpox vaccines after an appropriate incubation period. There may also be more severe reactions. Localized adverse reactions such as pain or swelling at the site of the injection are also possible. Adverse reactions and events are reported by patients or their physicians through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) cosponsored by the Centers for Disease Protection and the Food and Drug Association. This is a national vaccine safety surveillance program that collects information on vaccines licensed for use in the United States because "rare reactions, delayed reactions, or reactions within subpopulations" may not be identified prior to licensure.
 
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) was created in 1986 to protect the vaccine makers from legal actions and thus to ensure continued vaccine supplies and stable costs while maintaining a process to compensate those who had been injured by vaccines. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U. S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims all maintain roles in managing the VICP.