All medications can have some unwanted effects. This is true of vaccines as well. For a very, very few children, however, more serious side effects are possible. For most children, the risk of contracting the disease is far greater than the risk of suffering a serious side effect from the immunization. If your child is old enough, explain that immunizations prevent some very bad diseases.
Children feel less of a sting when they do so.
For babies and toddlers, be prepared to hold and care for them if they don't feel well for a while after the shot. Ask your doctor about medications that would be appropriate to administer for a mild reaction to the shot. Receive all shots by two years of age. Make every doctor visit count. Ask your doctor.