Long-Term Effects and Safety of Vaccines

Rector Advisor, Vice Dean, and Faculty Member - Istanbul Kent University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Departmant of Pharmocology
Visiting Researcher&Lecturer - University College London, Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, UK
Visiting Lecturer - University of Aveiro, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Portugal

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Map of Health content is prepared with an evidence-based approach. References are provided for transparency.

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This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have an urgent medical concern, seek immediate care.

"Continuously monitoring the long-term effects and safety profiles of vaccines helps ensure that immunization strategies developed to protect public health are sustained confidently based on scientific data."

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Long-Term Effects and Safety of Vaccines

Vaccine Type	Long-Term Effects	Safety Status	Known Side Effects	Scientific Opinion
COVID-19 Vaccines	Immune response and protection against the disease continue in the long term.	Generally safe, but rare side effects may occur in some individuals (e.g., myocarditis).	Mild pain, fever, fatigue; rarely myocarditis, anaphylaxis.	Vaccines are effective and safe against severe COVID-19. Long-term effects are being monitored.
Hepatitis B Vaccine	Immunity is long-lasting; reduces the risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis.	Safe and effective; very rare allergic reactions may occur.	Local reactions (pain, swelling), rare allergic reactions.	Provides long-term protection, generally effective for a long time.
HPV Vaccine	Provides long-term protection against genital cancers and cervical cancer.	Very safe, rare side effects.	Mild pain, redness, rare dizziness, fainting.	Provides long-term protection; can prevent precancerous lesions.
MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) Vaccine	Immunity can last a lifetime; prevents the spread of diseases like measles and rubella.	Safe, very rare side effects may occur.	Mild fever, redness, rare seizures.	Very safe, immunity continues in the long term.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccine	Provides long-term protection against pertussis infection.	Safe, but fever and local reactions may occur in some children.	Local reactions, fever, rare seizures.	Very important for children and infants, provides long-term protection.
Flu (Influenza) Vaccine	Provides protection against different types of flu viruses, but needs to be updated every year.	Safe, but side effects may occur in some individuals.	Mild pain, fatigue, rare muscle aches.	An annually updated vaccine, effective in preventing flu outbreaks.
Tetanus Vaccine	Provides long-term immunity against tetanus.	Safe, but mild reactions may occur in some individuals.	Mild fever, pain, local reactions.	Safe and effective, a booster is recommended every 10 years.
BCG (Tuberculosis) Vaccine	Provides long-term protection against tuberculosis, especially important in childhood.	Safe, but rare side effects may occur in some countries.	Mild fever, swollen lymph nodes.	Provides effective protection, but does not affect the entire population.
Rabies Vaccine	Provides protection against the rabies virus, immunity can last a lifetime.	Safe, but side effects may occur in some individuals after vaccination.	Local reactions, rare fever, headache.	Rabies vaccine provides effective protection, especially important for individuals at risk.