Does it make sense to change your car’s tires one at a time? (A vaccine parable)

The Pediatric Insider

© 2014 Roy Benaroch, MD







“But how do I know it’s safe? I read on the internet that replacing all of the tires at once can stress out the suspension, and lead to premature angulation of the mesmerglobber, and on Oprah I saw this actress and she said three months after she had all four tires replaced, her transmission broke!” Ms. McCarthy started to sob.

“OK, look, it’s ok, look, um…” Ron looked for one of his less-greasy rags to offer as a handkerchief.


“Probably it’ll be OK, I guess. But tires are an important part of your safety system, like good brakes and seat belts and air bags.”



“I can’t risk that 1 out of 100 chance!”

The mechanic tried another avenue. “But it’s the law, you have to wear your seat belt, and your kids need to be in the right kind of car safety seats too.”





“Tell you what—I’ll fix up your brakes for free, just my cost for parts, OK? Really, it’s not safe for you and the other drivers if you don’t have good brakes and tires.”


Are you?

A previous vaccine parable

Why do some parents refuse vaccines?

An illustrated history of one anti-vaccine myth

Too many too soon debunked


Adapted from a post that originally appeared here in June, 2010.

Explore posts in the same categories: Pediatric Insider information

Tags: , ,


10 Comments on “Does it make sense to change your car’s tires one at a time? (A vaccine parable)”

  1. nasik Says:

    a moronic analogy for a moronic site – totally void of logic and reason


  2. A bit of a stretch analogy, don’t you think? Replacing 4 exact tires vs 4 different ones?? Try putting 4 different tires on the car and feeling safe then. Choosing not to give multiple vaccinations at the same time is a wise one. If the child has a bad reaction how would you know which vaccine caused it?


  3. Julie Kardos Says:

    Spot on! Dr. Roy has read all of the medical textbooks and continues to read all of the latest research on vaccines and other pediatric information so that non-pediatrician parents don’t have to do this for their children! Vaccines safety is constantly monitored, and fortunately the data show that giving multiple vaccines at the AAP’s recommended schedule is a safe practice. Not vaccinating on time leaves kids vulnerable to preventable diseases that can cause disability and death.


  4. Chip Says:

    Funny post, Roy. I think many won’t get it though. 🙂

    It’s fun when people whose knowledge of science and medicine can be gleaned through a 5-minute Google search tell lifelong medical practitioners that a procedure is unsafe or maybe they should change the way it is done because they feel it is too much for a child’s system. And then they reply with the brilliant retort of “totally devoid of logic and reason” without offering one sliver of either themselves.

    It’s understandable to be scared for your child — vaccines can seem so scary for the under-informed and they make your kid cry and they can be crabby a while after. And yes, like EVERY medical procedure, it cannot ever be said to be 100% safe and nothing will ever happen bad as a result. But the incidence of any reaction beyond the mild to moderate are extremely rare — you’re more likely to get into a serious car accident on the way to the doctor than have any of those effects.


  5. Dr. Roy Says:

    Ms. Ransom makes the argument that giving vaccines separately is a wise choice, because “If the child has a bad reaction how would you know which vaccine caused it?”

    The chance of a “bad reaction” is vanishingly small– very, very close to zero. A child has a higher risk of a serious car accident on the way to the doctor than of having a “bad reaction” to a vaccine. Multiplying trips to the doctor increases that risk, and more importantly increases the risk that the child will remain unprotected against serious illnesses that really do cause bad reactions.

    Also, splitting up vaccines is cruel to the child. Each time a child comes to the doc for shots, it hurts, at least a little. Multiply that more and more times, and you’re not only exposing a child to more pain, but you’re also reinforcing his fear of needles and doctors. It makes our job much more difficult when children are fearful (and, of course, it’s no fun for the child.) Get the vaccines done as efficiently as possible, in as few trips as possible, using safe, proven combos according to the recommended schedule– not some “made up” schedule invented to sell books by preying on fear.


  6. Rachel Says:

    I figure that the more times the kid is in the pediatrician’s office, the more chance she has of contracting some annoying illness from all the sick, snotty, coughing kids there. Plus, as much as I like our pediatrician, we have better things to do with our time than unnecessarily going back and forth to his office for something that can safely be done in one visit. I think I’ll take the one shot and done, thank you!


  7. OMDG Says:

    Dr. Roy, Just be aware that your definition of a “bad reaction” and a parent’s may be very different. After my daughter’s 2 month shots, she cried continuously for hours and ran a low grade fever. I know this seems like a nothing event to you because the kids you see in the hospital are much sicker than this. However even as a person who is almost done with med school and has seen plenty of *actually* sick patients, it was really hard for me to deal with as a new parent. Caring for an inconsolable, uncomfortable baby is really difficult, especially if you have to do it by yourself for 8 hours in a row with no breaks. Even NICU nurses don’t have to do this.

    My daughter has continued to receive her shots on schedule and I would NEVER consider not vaccinating or even delaying shots. However please try to be cognizant of some of the things parents are responding to when they come to your office complaining of “bad reactions,” requesting that vaccines be delayed. I’m not saying you should honor their requests, but in our case, it would have been nice to have at least been warned that this could happen. And, it would have been extra nice if someone had told me the appropriate dose of acetaminophen in advance so I didn’t have to calculate it off of Up To Date myself with a screaming wriggling baby in my arms.


  8. Maureen Goddard Says:

    If you are going to use an analogy, please make it one that is relatable. And please consider being more respectful of a person’s decisions- it reflects poorly on you when you don’t.


  9. cphickie Says:

    As a pediatrician, when I see a parent doing something really stupid like skipping vaccines for their child, I have a hard time not wondering just how many other unnecessary risks you are taking with your child’s health. Dr. Benaroch’s analogy here is very valid–namely well-meaning people doing really stupid things because they are gullible enough to believe all the crap that floats around on the internet. As I read about measles outbreaks in California and Hawaii this week, as well as continuing whooping cough outbreaks all over the US (and the death of an infant last week in California that was too young to receive whooping cough vaccine), I say this to you inane non-vaccinating parents: some of your children are going to be hurt by vaccine-preventable diseases due to your ignorance and arrogance. Yes, you have the right not to vaccinate, but decisions have consequences and the diseases that vaccines prevent don’t care a whit about how otherwise healthy a life you may give your child. Too many parents are not vaccinating there children now in the US and your children no longer have the benefit of the herd immunity they once had from all the other parents who do vaccinate their children. What makes me sad is that children will pay the price for these horrible choices made by their parents. –Chris Hickie, MD, PhD


  10. bye Says:

    …. People like this are actually allowed medical licenses? America is doomed.


Leave a Reply


WordPress.com Logo


Google photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo


Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: