The Claim:
A widely circulating article claims that vaccines (especially the old DPT shot and large combo shots) can stop babies from breathing and cause death, that many “SIDS” cases were really vaccine deaths hidden by doctors and officials, and that deaths fell when fewer shots were given or when DTaP replaced DPT.
The Facts:
In the U.S., a special program called the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) helps people who may have been harmed by vaccines. This program exists because vaccines protect public health, and very rare adverse reactions can occur. However, vaccine makers are not free from responsibility—this system ensures claims can be handled fairly without discouraging companies from developing vaccines that save lives.
The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act protects vaccine makers from being sued if a vaccine causes injuries or death *as long as the side effects are unavoidable and the vaccine is made and labeled correctly.* In other words, the law stops any lawsuits that claim a vaccine’s design is defective. There is nothing to stop anyone from suing if there are issues with manufacturing, etc
As for SIDS, meta-analyses found that there was no association or a decreased risk of SIDS among children who received the DPT vaccine compared to children who did not.
Disclaimer: Science is always evolving and our understanding of these topics may have evolved too since this was originally posted. Be sure to check out our most recent posts and browse the latest Just the Facts Topics for the latest.
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