Vaccine safety is one of the most common concerns parents bring up–and it makes sense. With so much information (and misinformation) out there, it’s easy to feel unsure about what to believe.
Some of the most persistent myths I hear in the office and online are about vaccines causing SIDS, autism, or allergic conditions like asthma. These are sensitive topics that come up often–and it’s helpful to understand where the concerns come from and what the science really says.
That’s why I’ve broken each of these myths down in individual PedsDocTalk YouTube videos–sharing what the research shows and why these claims don’t hold up. This post brings those takeaways together to offer a clear, science-backed perspective parents can feel confident about.
Want more details? Each section links to a YouTube video where I talk through the topic in more depth.
Myth #1: Vaccines increase the risk of SIDS
The timing of routine vaccines and the peak age for SIDS often overlap, which is one reason this myth continues to circulate. Most babies receive their first set of vaccines between two and four months of age–and that’s also the time when SIDS is most likely to occur. So yes, there’s an overlap in timing. But that doesn’t mean vaccines are the cause.
If vaccines were truly responsible for SIDS, we’d expect to see another spike later–like when babies receive boosters at 6, 12, or 15 months. But we don’t. That’s because the risk of SIDS naturally declines after about six months due to changes in biological development, not anything to do with vaccines.
What the research actually shows is reassuring. A 2015 meta-analysis published in BMC Pediatrics reviewed multiple studies and found no increased risk of SIDS from vaccines. In fact, vaccinated infants–particularly those who received vaccines like DTaP–had a lower risk of SIDS compared to those who weren’t vaccinated.
Why might vaccines help reduce the risk? One possible explanation is that they help prevent severe infections that can destabilize a baby’s breathing. For example, pertussis (whooping cough) can lead to episodes of apnea in young infants, where breathing temporarily stops. By preventing illnesses like this, vaccines may contribute to more stable respiratory patterns in babies during a vulnerable developmental window.
While SIDS doesn’t have a single cause, there are clear steps we know help reduce the risk:
- Practice safe sleep (on the back, firm surface, no loose items)
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Stay on top of well-child visits
- And yes–vaccinate on schedule
Vaccines aren’t something to fear in this conversation. They’re one of the ways we help protect babies during a vulnerable time–alongside safe sleep practices and regular check-ins with your pediatrician. When given on schedule, vaccines actually reduce the risk of SIDS and support your baby’s overall health and development.
Watch the full PedsDocTalk YouTube Video on Vaccines and SIDS. It includes more on individual vaccines like DTaP, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, and Pneumococcal.
Myth #2: Vaccines cause autism
It’s one of the most persistent vaccine myths out there–and even though science has definitively said no, the question keeps resurfacing.
Just recently, the CDC was pressured to re-investigate the already debunked vaccine-autism link–following lobbying from anti-vaccine groups. Moves like this don’t just waste time and resources–they undermine public trust and give oxygen to fear-based misinformation that puts children at risk.
So, where did this myth even come from?
In 1998, British doctor Andrew Wakefield published a now-retracted study claiming a link between the MMR vaccine and autism–based on just 12 children, with manipulated data, misrepresented medical histories, and serious ethical violations. The paper was retracted, but the damage to public trust was already done.
Since then, dozens of large-scale studies have looked into this claim–and they’ve all come to the same conclusion: There is no link between vaccines and autism.
So why does this myth stick around? A big reason is timing. Early signs of autism often appear between 12 and 24 months–around the same time children receive several routine vaccines. But correlation isn’t causation. The overlap in timing has fueled confusion, not causality.
Want more context–including how celebrities, social media, and media coverage amplified this myth?
Watch the full PedsDocTalk YouTube video on vaccines and autism. It breaks down the timeline, the evidence, and why reopening this question again and again does more harm than good.
Myth #3: Vaccines trigger allergies or asthma
This concern often comes up because conditions like allergies, eczema, and asthma are more common now than they were a few decades ago. And when something becomes more prevalent, it’s natural for parents to wonder–could vaccines have something to do with it?
It’s an understandable question. But just because these health issues and vaccines both became more common in recent decades doesn’t mean one caused the other. That’s like saying every time your child has a birthday, the ice cream truck shows up. The timing is a coincidence–not a cause
A large body of evidence confirms that children who receive routine vaccinations are no more likely to develop these conditions than children who don’t. There is robust research that shows us there is no increased risk of asthma after vaccination.
Vaccines also don’t “overwhelm” or weaken the immune system. They work more like a practice fire drill–training the immune system to respond to specific germs without causing illness. Kids are still exposed to plenty of microbes in daily life through siblings, pets, daycare, dirt, and more. Vaccines don’t take that away.
And here’s something that often gets overlooked: some of the infections vaccines help prevent–like RSV or pertussis–have been linked to a higher risk of asthma later in childhood. So by preventing those infections, vaccines may actually protect the immune system from overreacting down the road.
Wondering where this myth started–or how things like aluminum or peanut oil ended up in the conversation?
Watch the full PedsDocTalk YouTube video on vaccines, allergies, and asthma. It breaks down why allergy rates have gone up, what the research really says, and what to know about rare allergic reactions to vaccines.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to have all the answers right away. And you don’t need to make these decisions in fear.
Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have to protect children during the years they’re most vulnerable. But questions are part of the process–and it’s okay to pause, to ask, and to look for answers that help you feel more informed.
Just remember: where you get your answers matters. Look for sources that value clarity over clicks, and science over panic. And please–don’t make decisions based on a viral post from someone selling supplements in the comments.
The truth is: vaccines do not cause SIDS, autism, or allergic conditions like asthma. These myths continue to circulate, but decades of research have shown they’re not supported by science.
If you want to explore each topic in more depth, check out these PedsDocTalk YouTube videos:
Do Vaccines Cause SIDS? Pediatrician Explains the Truth With Facts
Do Vaccines Cause Autism? The Truth Every Parent Needs to Hear
Do Vaccines Cause Allergies, Asthma, or Eczema? Pediatrician Explains
