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RealAge FAQ

Vaccines

Are there any safe and effective alternatives to vaccination?

Over the decades, vaccines have been some of the safest and most powerful tools in preventing disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration do not know of any other ways to safely and effectively prevent these serious diseases long term. These are some facts to consider:

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the CDC recommend that children be vaccinated routinely against 10 serious diseases.
  • Some advocate using natural substances to boost a child’s immune system instead of vaccines. However, many people with healthy immune systems have died from diseases that could have been prevented with vaccination.
  • The unvaccinated child must battle a disease organism without the help of the antibodies that develop through vaccination. Although many children will survive the battle, many also will suffer severe complications that lead to disabilities.
Last reviewed on: June 2009
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