Harford County health officials: Vaccines are safe, prevent severe disease and protect the community

Harford County Health Department Medical Deputy Dr. Jamie Sibel and local pediatrician Dr. Paul Limonico told viewers that vaccines are “probably the most important medical advancement in the last two centuries” and that they protect individuals and the community from serious disease. The statements were made during an episode of the county’s Public Health Matters program hosted by Rana Nasar.

Dr. Sibel said vaccines undergo extensive pre‑licensure study and continuous post‑release monitoring, and asserted that the overall safety record is strong. “They are one of the greatest public health achievements,” she said, pointing to vaccines’ role in preventing outbreaks and protecting medically vulnerable people, including those on chemotherapy.

Both physicians rejected the idea that natural infection is preferable to vaccination. Dr. Limonico described severe clinical outcomes he saw earlier in his career, including children hospitalized with measles and complications from chickenpox: natural infection, he said, “can cause irreparable damage,” whereas vaccines confer immunity without causing the disease.

The hosts and guests addressed common safety questions directly. Panelists said multiple vaccines given at a single visit have been studied and are safe; common reactions are short‑lived, such as low‑grade fever or local soreness, and over‑the‑counter fever medicines are acceptable. “The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the very rare risks,” Dr. Sibel said.

On concerns about autism, Dr. Sibel summarized the origin of the claim and the evidence rebutting it: a 1998 Lancet paper with serious methodological flaws was later retracted, and multiple large studies since have found no association. “Vaccines do not cause autism,” she said.

The show also reviewed the HPV vaccine. Dr. Sibel and Dr. Limonico emphasized that HPV is linked to certain cancers and that vaccination before exposure is most effective; they noted the routine two‑dose schedule for those who start before age 15 and three doses for those who start later.

The episode closed with an appeal to use trusted sources for vaccine questions—local health departments, primary care clinicians, and professional societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Maryland Department of Health—and to discuss concerns with a health care provider.

The Harford County Health Department directed viewers to its resources page for vaccine schedules and local clinic information; the program ended without any formal action or vote.