PVP doctors welcome all your questions, including those concerning vaccines. Please feel to discuss these
questions with your child’s doctor as you would any other health concern.
We have found that many parents have similar questions. Please see these FAQs below.
Why do we have combination vaccines?
Fewer Shots, Same Protection:
Combination vaccines offer the same level of protection against multiple diseases as administering individual
vaccines, but with fewer injections.
Combination vaccines have undergone rigorous testing to ensure safety and efficacy. They have been shown
to be as effective as administering separate vaccines and do not increase the risk of serious side effects.
Giving several shots at the same time means fewer office visits and can be less traumatic for the child.
Safety and Effectiveness:
Numerous studies and millions of children receiving multiple vaccines at once have demonstrated that it is a
safe and effective practice.
Immune System Capacity:
A child's immune system is capable of responding to multiple vaccines, and is regularly challenged by
environmental antigens. In fact, a common cold or illness can present a greater challenge than the antigens in
vaccines.
Minimal Antigens:
Vaccines contain a small number of antigens compared to the vast number of antigens children are exposed to
daily through their environment.
Is there thimerosal in the vaccines?
Thimerosal was removed from all childhood vaccines in 2001 with the exception of inactivated flu vaccine in
multi-dose vials. However, thimerosal has been removed from all single-dose preparations of flu vaccine for
children and adults. No acceptable alternative preservative has yet been identified for multi-dose flu vaccine
vials.
In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was required by law to assess the amount of mercury in all
the products the agency oversees, not just vaccines. The U.S. Public Health Service decided that as much
mercury as possible should be removed from vaccines, and thimerosal was the only source of mercury in
vaccines.
The decision to remove it was a made as a precautionary measure to decrease overall exposure to mercury
among young infants.
Is there a link between thimerosal and autism?
No. Research does not show any link between thimerosal and autism.
Why was the decision made to remove thimerosal from most vaccines?
Although no evidence suggests there are safety concerns with thimerosal, most vaccine manufacturers have
stopped using it as a precautionary measure. The only vaccine that still includes thimerosal as a preservative
is the multi-dose inactivated influenza vaccine.
PVP only administers single dose vaccines.
Would you like more information?
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