Understanding Vaccine Safety & Efficacy

How do vaccines work?

Vaccines are similar to how we train search and rescue dogs or Police K-9 forces. They take the essence of a dangerous disease—like a virus, bacteria, or even a cancer cell—and present it to the immune system in a safe way. This allows the immune system to recognize the disease-causing agent and build a defense, stopping its spread and destroying any agents that get into the body. This training allows your body to learn how to fight the real germ without you ever getting sick from it.

Similar to training a bloodhound, you need to reinforce that this "essence" is bad. This is where "adjuvants" come in. These are typically chemicals that, in very small doses, cause the immune system to respond—much like putting a steak in front of a dog automatically gets their attention. Adjuvants like aluminum do this for the immune system. The amount used in vaccines is minimal, often less than what a normal child consumes in their diet.

While much has been made of new vaccine technologies like mRNA, this method of training the immune system was tested for decades in labs and animals before the first human tests. mRNA vaccines work just like other vaccines: they train your immune system to recognize a threat. Scientists are excited by this technology because it allows for more precise targeting. For example, cancers caused by mutations are hard to vaccinate against because they can look very similar to healthy cells. mRNA vaccines offer new ways to present these unique cancer mutations, helping the immune system protect healthy cells while specifically focusing on the cancerous ones.

Are vaccines safe?

Yes, vaccines are remarkably safe. They undergo rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness before being approved. While mild side effects like a sore arm or low fever can occur, serious side effects are extremely rare. This is not a single person's or organization's opinion; it is a rigorously and continually tested fact that is consistently re-verified in laboratories all over the world. The consensus is clear: vaccines are a safe and efficient way to prevent death and life-altering illnesses.

Here is a partial list of the many global organizations that maintain and verify the safety of vaccines:

• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
• American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
• American Medical Association (AMA)
• American Red Cross
• Autism Speaks
• Autism Society of Canada
• Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate (BGTD) of Health Canada
• Canadian Adverse Events Following Immunization Surveillance System (CAEFISS)
• Canadian Medical Association
• Canadian Paediatric Society
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Cochrane Reviews
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
• Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS)
• Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) (Canada)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Pfizer, Moderna, and other pharmaceutical developers
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• World Health Organization (WHO)