Vaccines and Naturopathic Care: What Health Authorities Say and How to Get Reliable Information

Vaccine decisions should rest on information from health authorities and your own doctor or nurse. This page is information only. It does not say what any individual naturopath, naturopathic doctor or other practitioner believes, because the research shows views differ.

What a health authority says

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes vaccination as a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them. [1] It estimates that childhood vaccines alone save over 4 million lives every year. [1] On specific safety questions, WHO says:

• It is safe to receive several different vaccines during one visit, and combination vaccines are as safe and effective as individual ones. [1]
• Vaccine ingredients, and the vaccines themselves, have been thoroughly tested and are monitored for safety. [1]
• Nearly everyone can be vaccinated, but some people should not get certain vaccines or should wait, including people with severe, life-threatening allergies to a vaccine ingredient (very rare) and those having treatments such as chemotherapy that affect the immune system. [1]
• Your health worker can advise on which vaccines you need, and WHO recommends using only trustworthy sources online. [1]

We could not read the CDC and American Association of Naturopathic Physicians pages when preparing this page (access was blocked), so we do not cite them. Look up current schedules directly with the CDC in the US or your national health ministry.

What research says about naturopathic care and vaccination

Two sets of findings are worth knowing, and both are limited.

Uptake in the US. In a 2022 US national survey analysis, overall use of complementary medicine did not significantly predict COVID-19 or flu vaccination. People who had visited naturopaths had lower odds of vaccination (adjusted odds ratio 0.66 for COVID-19 and 0.72 for flu), as did those who visited chiropractors, while people who visited acupuncturists had higher odds. [2] This is a cross-sectional survey, so it shows an association. It does not show what any practitioner advised or why people decided as they did. Evidence label: mixed by type of care.

What providers say. A Canadian review of academic papers and organization webpages found diverging views among chiropractors, naturopaths and homeopaths on effectiveness, safety and fit with their philosophy, and concluded the literature cannot be called simply pro- or anti-vaccination. [3] Organization webpages included standards on vaccine administration, counsel, education and marketing. [3] So it is wrong to assume every naturopathic practitioner holds one view; ask.

How to get reliable information

1. Ask your practitioner directly what they advise about the vaccine schedule and what that advice is based on.
2. Compare the answer with a health authority such as WHO, the CDC or your national equivalent. Vaccine information should come from health authorities and your doctor or nurse.
3. Talk to your own doctor or pharmacist about your medical history and any allergies. [1]
4. You can keep using complementary care and stay up to date with vaccines. The 2022 survey found mind-body medicine use was linked to higher COVID-19 vaccination odds. [2]

NCCIH lists vaccines against hepatitis B and HPV among ways to reduce cancer risk. [4] Related reading: what studies found about cancer care, vaccines and infection prevention, how to evaluate a therapy claim and the safety overview.