- When parents raise questions about vaccine safety,

I ask them specifically what they've heard.

Because often they've heard or read

one thing that I can address directly

and I explain to them where there are

mistaken bits of information

and how sometimes people draw conclusions

that one thing caused another

when they really didn't have anything to do with each other.

The other thing is I do like to talk about

how vaccines are determined to be safe

and I think it's important for us,

as physicians and healthcare providers,

to understand how vaccines are vetted for safety

before they're even licensed or approved by the FDA

so that we can literally address those concerns

with families and parents

from a standpoint of knowledge

and understanding the science and the system.

Sometimes I even talk about the rotavirus vaccine,

which post marketing revealed that there were issues

and that vaccine was withdrawn from the market

in less than a year.

With the HPV vaccine in particular

we've given over 150 million doses

and truthfully, except for perhaps an allergic reaction,

the most serious side effect that's been identified

is that some teenagers valsalva, hold their breath,

and faint after they have a vaccine.

When you put it into perspective for families

and explain the facts,

many times you can dispel those safety concerns.

(gentle music)