Anti Vaccination Culture

Between 1924 and 2013, vaccinations prevented 103 million cases of polio, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis A, diphtheria, and pertussis (Bailey). Vaccinating is “the process by which pathogenic cells are injected into a healthy person in an attempt to cause the body to develop antibodies to a particular virus or bacterium—successful creation of antibodies is referred to as immunity to the disease caused by the particular pathogen” (Introduction to Should Vaccinations be Mandatory). Popular conflicts regarding vaccination include the worry that this form of immunization isn’t natural, the idea that vaccination schedule for children in the U.S. takes away parents’ rights to make decisions for their children, and the concern that vaccinations aren’t safe for all children. Most doctors and scientists advocate for vaccinations in the name of herd immunity, protection against foreign diseases and prevention against pockets of disease outbreaks. Vaccinations should be mandatory for all children in the United States for who they are deemed safe and effective.

This poses the question that if vaccinations can protect a child from a major illness why are parents choosing not to vaccinate their children?

“As healthy as my lifestyle seemed, I contracted measles, mumps, rubella, a type of viral meningitis, scarlatina, whooping cough, yearly tonsillitis, and chickenpox, some of which are vaccine preventable” (Parker 1). This quote by vaccine advocate Amy Parker, a woman who was not vaccinated as a child, shows just a glimpse into the life of an unvaccinated individual. Parents who do not vaccinate their children claim many different reasons for their decision. Three of the most popular reasons are: religious grounds, health problems as a result from vaccines, and the belief that the illnesses are rare. Each of these reasons can be proven as nonessential in the anti-vaccine argument.

Throughout the article, Hendrix evaluates the possible arguments of parents who turn down opportunities to vaccinate their children and later discusses methods to evoke better communication. For example, Hendrix states, “Some parents do invoke the herd immunity argument as a reason not to vaccinate, suggesting that it is unnecessary that they expose their child to the risk of side effects from vaccination if everyone else is vaccinated to a level that prevents the spread of illnesses” (2). While her stance calls for policymakers and health officials to consider the reasoning behind parental opposition to vaccinations, she also refutes

Often debated, with strong convictions on each side, timely immunizations for children do more good then harm. Over the last few years, a phenomenon has come to our door steps. It used to be that all parents would immunize their children, without fail, because doctors told them to. In the past, the only non-immunized children were the children with health deficiencies. These children depended on the “herd” mentality. However, times are changing and parents are choosing to not immunize their children mainly based on these reasons: the possibility of them getting autism, parental lack of education about immunizations and lastly they believe that the illnesses that children are being immunized against are gone and immunizations are no longer needed.

Because of advancements in medicine, vaccinations are becoming a widespread medium in the prevention of disease. They have provided the eradication and immunity to many deadly diseases such as smallpox, polio and rubella. Although there is no law that mandates the vaccination of children, they are necessary to prevent the infliction of disease and harm. By making the decision to vaccinate their children, a parent has the potential to save their lives.

Millions of lives have been saved thanks to a global effort to vaccinate for deadly diseases. Peter Yeo reports “Immunizations have saved more children than any other medical intervention in the last 50 years” (Reforming the U.N. 118). Yet, a new trend for parents is opting out of vaccinating their children for personal beliefs or religious exemptions. Although, the majority of Americans believe vaccines protect children, and conclusive evidence has proven vaccines can prevent the spread of deadly diseases. Still, a few parents believe vaccinating children is not essential for their health, additionally, they believe an increase in mandatory vaccines has insufficient scientific research to prevent serious medical side effects.

The main reason parents refuse to vaccinate their children is because it causes the child some pain when administered (Vaccinations, 66-67). Preventing your child’s health is worth the small amount of pain, for it could save their life. It is best to realize that vaccines have many benefits, and can result in consequences later if vaccines are not given (19). One of these consequences could be contracting a deadly illness that could have been avoided with just one vaccine (80). For instance, a young child in Tennessee had parents who were concerned about the safety of vaccines from what they had heard from the media (80). The parents decided not to vaccinate the child and she contracted a vaccine preventable type of meningitis. “Vaccines can prevent a disease from occurring in the first place, rather than attempt a cure after the fact. It is much cheaper to prevent a disease than to treat it. According to one U.S. analysis, for every dollar spent on the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, twenty-one dollars are saved (Vaccines, 24-25).” Another consequence could be experiencing the lasting effects of a disease which could leave a child blind, deaf, or even killed (Vaccinations, 66). Martin G. Myers, director of the U.S.

The debate over whether or not parents should be able to refuse vaccinations for their children has become extremely heated during recent years due to reports of vaccinations being linked to Autism and other developmental and learning disabilities (autism, ADD, ADHD). Currently, there is no federal mandate for vaccination of children. However, each of the 50 states require that all children are vaccinated in order to attend public school. While some states provide exemptions from vaccinations for religious and medical reasons, many parents who refuse to vaccinate their children do not meet these criteria for exemption. Parents on the opposing side of this argument believe that due to research linking vaccinations with autism, A.D.H.D, and A.D.D. that children are better off avoiding these detrimental side effect by allowing their immune systems to fight off viruses naturally. Parents who see vaccines from this viewpoint believe that the harm caused by exposing their children to the questionable components of vaccines is greater than the possible risk of the infection. However, the proponents in this argument see things from a different angle. Proponents view unvaccinated children as risks to the rest of the population as they may spread the infection to others without ever becoming infected. Pro-vaccine parents view vaccinations as life changing medical advancements that have eradicated countless possible cases of infection, and saved just as many lives. While they

Many medical professionals and scientists consider vaccination one of the greatest medical achievements in modern civilization. Research shows that vaccination is the best way to protect your child from disease. So, why are some parents opting out of vaccines? Common reasons parents have for not vaccinating their children include concerns about the ingredients in vaccines, fear of dangerous side effects, and beliefs that natural immunity is the best immunity. Other common arguments include mistrust towards pharmaceutical companies and claims that vaccination is a personal decision. Whether you advocate for or against vaccination, everybody is striving for the same goal: to ensure the health of our children and loved ones.

Vaccines save lives; fear endangers them. Vaccinations have been used since the 18th century to cure various deadly diseases, from smallpox to the influenza virus. On a global level, vaccination is one of the few cost-effective medical measures that result in universal benefit. Yet there have always been those opposed to vaccinations because of possible side effects. With the increase in technology and the ability to share ideas in modern society the anti vaccine movement has flourished making the eradication of disease and safety of the public a difficult task. The anti-vaccine movement in the United States is one which brings about a very serious issue of safety. Vaccinations are put in place to protect people; they are administered by trained professionals who weigh the costs and benefits of vaccines. Yet there are still people out there who refuse to be vaccinated out of fear and therefore decide for themselves the effectiveness of vaccines. In order to ensure a safe society the public needs to be educated about vaccine in order to make a truly informed decision.

Having the immunity when your child is exposed to the disease is extremely important. Vaccines have come a long way and many diseases have been eradicated due to people choosing to vaccinate.

Vaccines are a very large controversy in the United States today. From California requiring all children to be vaccinated before entering schools and the Disneyland Measles outbreak, to the claim that vaccines may cause autism, there is huge talk throughout families and the media today about vaccinations. There are many people with differing opinions about vaccines. Whether it is about what the vaccine consists of, whether it is a right that we, as American’s, are allowed to make regarding our freedoms, or the risks when children are vaccinated or the risks when they are not vaccinated, there is a very large variety of thoughts that are involved in this topic.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) describes vaccination as being one of the ten greatest achievements in public health of the 20th century (CDC 1999) Despite this regard, speculation regarding the matter of vaccines has been around for nearly the entirety of their existence (Wolfe 2002). In his book, Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All, Author Paul Offit does well in informing readers of the ongoing debate regarding the safety and implementation of vaccinations. Offit begins his book by equating this debate to an ongoing war between hesitant parents and weary doctors. Both sides are motivated by fear. For parents it is the fear of possible side effects that may arise in their children. For doctors it is the

　　　　Parents there are a lot of different opinions to rather or now vaccinate their children. Parents also do a lot of research regarding the vaccines. Being that vaccine is a preventative agent that helps protect from disease like smallpox, hepatitis, and TB test is weakened antibodies trying to make a defense of immunity to the disease that you may come in contact with. There are also many other immunization that parents need to research about that are also important for a child to receive to help with preventative health care. Some parents chose to delay or just not vaccinate their child completely due to there are concerned about allergic reactions, side effects of the vaccine long term for their child, personal reason, and religious belief. Parents have fear regarding vaccines and what they will do to their children. But vaccines are a very important aspect of life. The fear come from on being educated on the vaccines a lot of parents fear the vaccines more than the children fear being poke with a needle.