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All drugs, no matter
how well-researched, have some risks and side effects. Vaccines are
no different. The decision to administer any drug or vaccine can be
thought of as a risk-benefit decision. In other words, the decision
balances the risk of getting an infection and allowing the disease
to run its course with the benefit of preventing the infection.
For licensed
vaccines, this risk-benefit assessment is clearly on the side that
the benefits greatly exceed the risks, even allowing for possible
side effects and allergies.
Licensed vaccines
undergo rigorous testing in laboratories and in clinical trials
before licensure is granted by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Even after a vaccine
is licensed, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) constantly
monitors occurrences of adverse events through surveillance systems
like the
Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and
Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD).
Learn how vaccines are developed and licensed.
 
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