Against Vaccination Research Paper

Recently an anti-vaccination movement has sparked a worldwide discussion about both the safety of vaccines and the responsibility of people to vaccinate. Recent outbreaks of preventable diseases have caused both fear and anger from people on both sides of the issue. These same outbreaks have also served to cause significant political tension between those against vaccines, who do not want their right to choose compromised, and many proponents of vaccines, who are calling for mandatory vaccinations.

There is no doubt that vaccination has been one of the greatest successes of public health programs in the 20th century. Vaccinations have eradicated naturally occurring smallpox, and have substantially reduced morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases that previously ravaged the population, such as polio and measles. Despite the successes, there has been a history of “anti-vaccinationists” in the U.S., who among other challenges, argued compulsory vaccination was an infringement upon personal liberty and their right to choice (1, 2). In fact, it took a Supreme Court decision to ultimately assert whether a state mandating vaccination infringed upon the U.S. Constitution.

Public health is controversial in many cases because it requires balancing individual freedom and the greater good of society. Vaccinations can eliminate communicable diseases, but can be difficult to impose vaccinations upon individuals because of their sense of liberty. In this debate, there are those that support mandatory vaccinations to promote the health and wellbeing of the entire population and those that oppose mandatory vaccinations to protect themselves from any potential side effects. This controversy must be handled delicately by public health workers.

Over the past year, vaccinations have sparked controversy all over America. Some parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children. I believe that all members of the community should be properly vaccinated to avoid the spread of disease, to prevent introducing eradicated diseases to other countries, and to prevent premature death.

From the birth to the age of eighteen children receive approximately thirty immunizations not counting the annual flu shot starting after six months of age. These vaccines protect against sixteen diseases that can be fatal to not only babies, but to adults as well. The diseases that can be vaccinated against are varicella also known as chicken pox, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, haemophilus influezae type B, Hepatitis A and B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal meningitis, pneumococcal pneumonia, polio, and roto virus. Some of the many symptoms of these diseases are fever, diarrhea, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, headaches, and breathing difficulties. Vaccines prevent the spread of these deadly diseases and should be given to all children that can receive them. There are many doubts about the effectiveness and adverse reactions to the immunizations, but in my opinion the benefits out-weight the risks.

We all have a right to freedom, but there have been many arguments that compulsory vaccinations may be considered a violation of civil liberty. With this being said, we allow the government and public school systems to force vaccinations on our society. Society as whole losses their rights in the debate regarding child immunizations. In all fifty (50) states, it is a requirement for

Known as ‘herd immunity’ or ‘community immunity,’ there lies an indirect protection of unvaccinated people when a large group of people is vaccinated against a certain disease. Therefore, if children are vaccinated against a disease, they are also protecting their family and friends. Additionally, according to Vaccines.gov, if enough people are vaccinated against a disease, about 80% of a population or less, the entire community has a lesser chance of getting the disease (Page 3). In other words, when a large age group of people, children, are vaccinated and therefore immune to disease, everyone else is protected as well indirectly. Furthermore, as well as unintentionally protecting peers who chose to be unvaccinated, children who are vaccinated are also protecting the subset of people that do not have the option to become vaccinated. There lies a small subset of people who cannot be vaccinated due to a variety of reasons including undergoing chemotherapy, or having severe allergies, HIV/AIDS, or even Type One Diabetes. The protection of these people is herd immunity (Epidemics: Opposing Viewpoints page 117). Concluding, by immunizing all youth, the compromised also become better protected as a whole. Also, one example of the representation in the introduction of of herd immunity is the pneumococcal vaccine. After the introduction of the

I believe there are two sides of this discussion, and I feel strongly that both have legitimate concerns and viable reasoning. There has been much debate over the past decade as to whether vaccinations are really keeping children healthy and free of illness and diseases. Although, there is not a federal mandate vaccination requirements, the school system does insist certain vaccinations are given before entering public schools. However, exemptions for medical/religious reasons are considered the risks outweigh the benefits (Malone & Hinman, n.d.).

Society has benefited from vaccines for more than two hundred years. Yet the path to whether or not to vaccinate has not been an easy decision for all. Vaccines against diphtheria, polio, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella, and more recent accompaniments of hepatitis B and chicken pox, have given humans potent immune protectors to zone off unwanted sickness. Through this research, I will explore the following questions: What are the reasons for this new law? Who should decide whether or not children should get vaccinated? What are the possible side-effects from vaccines? And what are the risks of not vaccinating? I chose these inquiries because as a mother of a 6-year old, these were significant questions that I too wanted answers; to maintain

Since the development of vaccinations, there has been an underlying question; should vaccinations be mandatory? People know of cruel tests conducted to “save lives” while in the process of developing the vaccination. “Unfortunately, the first attempts at creating a polio vaccine were disastrous and rather primitive…(Tolsma 4)” People also know of the tribulations that saved so many others. However, people can’t help but wonder will it be safe for them or their children? People can’t help but feel that they shouldn’t have to get vaccinated because they believe mandatory vaccinations take away their amendment rights. Therefore, the question of mandatory vaccinations has been on many minds. Mandating vaccinations although saves many lives,

Pro-mandate activists believe that the government should make children get the shot despite parent approval. They believe vaccines are safe and effective and that the benefits outweigh the risks. The fact that vaccine refuses decide not to vaccinate their children are selfish and anyone that suggest vaccines because autism are just quacks (Habakus & Holland, 2011). Ultimately, they want the vaccine exemptions abolished and replaced with federal mandates. The role of the government is to protect the people and public health safety is one of the most important ways to do this. The utilitarian approach is most associated with this side of the debate. The most utility that can be created is from saving many lives, even at the cost of some personal freedom.

I am very pro-vaccination. This year, more than ever we are seeing blowback from parents who think that it is their "right" to keep their children unvaccinated. I have heard arguments including research studies linking autism to vaccination that was flawed and disproved years ago. Repeatedly. I have heard mothers say that they don't have to have their children vaccinated, just being around my vaccinated children will help theirs. I've heard herd immunity thrown around, and realized that people have no idea what it means, or how it applies to our real world situation. / / I grew up with a single mother who made sure my brother and I were vaccinated no matter what. I grew up understanding that this is the way we wipe out terrible, disfiguring,

Most of us, normally go to the doctor every year or so, they tell us we need a vaccination, we get the shot and go on with or day. For some people, they disagree. They believe that vaccinations are taking away their freedom and rights. They also believe that their children shouldn't get vaccinations which cause them to be prone to many different diseases and viruses. The only reason that people are allowed to do this is because of the current law that states, in california, people can exempt themselves from vaccination for medical, religious, and philosophical reasons. The benefit to all this i believe to be miniscule, but again, the ten percent who believe otherwise would disagree.

I do not believe that the writers of the article against vaccines had a motive to eliminate vaccines from standard health care practice, but I believe that it appealed to parents because of the nature of Autism. There is no one cause of the disease, and because it is often not detected until the child is two or older, many parents become confused and angry. Being able to point a finger at something that made this change in their baby, and no longer having to wonder if it was something that they did, parents buy into this fallicy.

To the average individual, the word ‘vaccination’ means to prevent illness. Vaccinations have many advantages; they allow us to be less susceptible to a variety of illnesses and diseases. Many individuals believe that vaccinations should not be mandatory. However, the benefits from vaccinations greatly outweigh the risks from side effects. The judgments are factual and ethical and are supported by testing and research findings from multiple sources.