Many parents ask: are vaccines safe for my child? I'm one of those parents, but the research I've done has put my thoughts to rest. Many parents believe that vaccinations are linked to the causes of autism, multiple sclerosis, asthma and many other health problems. While many parents have legitimate reasons for not having their children vaccinated, there are more pros than cons to receiving vaccines. In rare cases children have become ill after vaccinations, some of them life-threatening. Due to vaccine safety and studies, changes in vaccine accessibility, and recent declines in outcomes from serious disease outbreaks, vaccines are helping to keep children and our society safe. When the possibility of a new vaccine arises, it must first be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration to be approved. The FDA is one of the companies that does the scientific testing to make sure it is a safe vaccine. By understanding the body's immune system, the scientist is able to make the vaccine more effective and less abrasive. Evaluating vaccine safety is an essential part of every vaccine clinical trial. Many vaccines can cause allergic reactions such as rashes, swelling and fever. Some parents are unaware of these side effects. Most side effects are mild and go away on their own. Mild reactions include: fever, aches, headache, itching and fatigue. These reactions usually begin soon after vaccination and last 1 to 2 days afterward. The more that is taught about vaccines, the better parents feel about their children receiving vaccinations. Another key point in administering vaccines is that the child must be healthy and not sick. This helps the va...... middle of paper ...... more epidemic of other deadly diseases. Representative Henry Waxman states, “However, as we increase research, we must also make sure every parent knows that the best available science does not support a link between vaccines and autism” (662 Waxman). With all the information that has been provided, vaccinations are doing good for our society and for children. They are also preventing our children from having serious illnesses and keeping them healthy. After having a son and hearing all the talk about autism and vaccinations, it inspired me to do some research on most of the vaccinations my son would receive. Honestly, there are more pros than cons to the vaccinations our children receive. Big companies are making sure these vaccines are more effective and less aggressive for our children; that's why vaccines are changing for the better.