Vaccines are considered safe because they undergo extensive testing and monitoring before and after being licensed. According to research, vaccines are the safest of all medications.
Pre-Licensing Safety Measures
Before a vaccine can be licensed and made available to the public, it goes through rigorous testing and evaluation. Here's a breakdown:
- Larger Population Studies: Vaccines are studied in larger populations before FDA licensing compared to other drugs, ensuring a thorough understanding of their effects. This helps to identify potential side effects and ensure effectiveness in a diverse group of people.
Post-Licensing Safety Measures
Even after a vaccine is licensed and in use, its safety is continuously monitored through multiple layers of surveillance. This ongoing monitoring helps to detect any rare or unexpected side effects that may not have been apparent during the initial clinical trials.
- Continuous Monitoring: Safety surveillance continues as long as the vaccines are distributed to ensure ongoing safety.
In summary, the safety of vaccines is ensured through comprehensive testing before licensing and continuous monitoring after they are put into use.
