Myth busting
Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many infectious diseases. This page explains common vaccine myths and facts.
Be aware of anti-vaccine stories
Anti-vaccine stories are often spread online through social media and offline.
Always get your vaccine and health information from trusted sources, such as the NHS or World Health Organisation (WHO).
The vaccine information on social media may not be based on scientific evidence and could put you or your child at risk of a serious illness.
All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.
Why vaccines are important
Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year.
Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or are now very rarely seen.
Other diseases like measles and diphtheria have reduced to a very low number of cases each year since vaccines were introduced. These cases are often related to travel.
However, if people stop having vaccines, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.
Vaccines are extremely safe. All vaccines must go through the same regulatory approval process as any medicines to make sure they meet strict safety standards and offer high levels of protection.
Myth: Flu is just a bad cold
Fact: Flu can cause serious illness, especially in young children and people with existing health conditions. Each year, thousands of people are hospitalised with flu complications, and tragically, some people die from flu. It's much more severe than a common cold.
Myth: The vaccine gives you flu
Fact: You cannot get flu from any of the flu vaccines.
Myth: I had the flu vaccine last year, so I am already protected
Fact: Flu viruses change each year. That's why the vaccine is updated annually to match the most common strains.
Myth: The vaccine gives you Covid-19
Fact: You cannot catch Covid-19 from the vaccine.
Myth: The Covid-19 vaccine causes severe side effects
Fact: Most side effects of the Covid-19 vaccination are mild and should not last longer than a week. For more information on the vaccine side effects, visit the NHS website.
Myth: There is a microchip inside the Covid-19 vaccine
Fact: There are no microchips inside the Covid-19 vaccines.
Myth: Vaccines overload a child’s immune system
Fact: Vaccines use only a tiny portion of the immune system's capability. Every day children touch, eat, and encounter things that give their immune system much more to deal with than a vaccine does.
Myth: Childhood illnesses like measles aren’t serious
Fact: Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation, and even death. Vaccination helps prevent these severe outcomes.
Myth: The MMR vaccine causes autism
Fact: There is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. This myth stems from a discredited study that has been thoroughly debunked.
Myth: Vaccines can harm unborn babies
Fact: Vaccines recommended during pregnancy, like the flu and whooping cough vaccines, are thoroughly tested for safety. They do not contain live viruses, so they can't cause the diseases they're meant to protect against.
Myth: Vaccines contain harmful ingredients
Fact: Some people worry about ingredients like aluminium or mercury in vaccines. UK vaccinations do not contain mercury, and the amount of other chemicals used is extremely small and helps the vaccine work better. It's much less than what we encounter in our daily environment.