Are Vaccines Really Safe

Adams says that the vaccine “is absolutely worthless” (445), but doesn’t give supporting evidence for that statement. Allen is even-handed in his approach, citing studies that show the drug seems to be effective, although he expresses doubt about the rush to put it into use. Adams says that it is an “illusion” (447) that the drug is safe, though he doesn’t give examples of it having harmed anyone. Allen only states that there is “no guarantee it won’t provoke a rare side effect” (450). Adams said this mandate was the result of drug companies bribing and influencing the DEA, politicians, and the medical school (447). Allen simply states that the government and parents need to be won over by the drug companies before the mandate is put into effect (450).

There are many rumors and much misinformation that surrounds vaccines, questioning their safety. These claims, however, are not credible. The most common worry is that there is a link between autism- a mental illness that inhibits social interaction- and vaccinations. This is due to research done by a british surgeon named Andrew Wakefield. Following studies, it was proven that, “there is no link between vaccines and autism.”(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, October 27, 2015) and Andrew Wakefield was discredited. There are many historical examples of vaccinations wrongly being accused of being unsafe. Inspection of vaccines before public consumption is mandated by the government. It is tested on animals, and in the 1960s, some animals

Unfortunately, little progress has been made since then, as reports from 2015 show only 72.2 percent of U.S. children are fully vaccinated (KFF, 2017). Healthy People 2020 recommends a national goal of 80 percent to maintain herd immunity (Child Trends Databank, 2015). Despite the life-saving importance of immunization, these stagnant rates show that many mothers of U.S. children do not adhere to vaccination recommendations. These critics and skeptics of vaccines are a part of the anti-vaccination movement. Originating upon the discovery of the first vaccine in 1796, this movement has progressed for hundreds of years. Currently, through media and prominent anti-vax social figures, the public can easily be relayed messages of vaccine controversies rather than scientific facts. Falsehoods include perceived low risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases, “overloading” the child’s immune system, mercury in vaccines, reports of negative reactions after vaccination, and the infamously popular myth that vaccines cause autism (Mittenzwei, Morrison, & Williams,

In today’s society, we believe that everything is up for debate, and that every topic can be opinionated. We like to have the power to make our own choices regardless of facts, just because we feel the pressure of being told what to do. We are lazy to learn the truth, but yet we are ready to choose sides and strongly argue about it. We see it every day on the news, in politics, sports, social media, online forums, school, etc. In his article, “Not Up for Debate: The Science Behind Vaccination”, published in September of 2015, Professor Aaron E. Carroll argues that the issue with vaccinations is more than just choosing to do it or not. Carroll jumps right into his discussion of the “Not up for debate” regarding people’s claims tying vaccines to autism, the choice not to, and officials backing them up. He explains how this argument stems from incorrect information, inadequate studies and research, and poor education about the facts and data about the vaccines, which leads to the stubborn belief that vaccinations should be banned.

Although the negative claims behind anti-immunization stances are deceptive and discredited, some parents find it difficult to accept that vaccines are necessary and safe. Many of these reasons are due to personal or religious beliefs that have persuaded parents to bypass immunizations for their children. Consequently, health officials are seeing disquieting rises of diseases that are easily preventable. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has reported hundreds of measles cases in the United States in 2011, the largest number in 15 years (Ben-Joseph, Elana). Essentially, almost all of these cases were in individuals who had not received a vaccine shot. Also found in the article was that a great amount of the quarrel over the shots comes from a 1998 study that tried to connect autism to a type of vaccine that defends against measles. However, there has been no scientific evidence that a vaccine or a combination of any of the shots induces autism. Undoubtedly, the doctor that wrote the article, calling vaccines a “deliberate fraud” ,lost his license for not submitting any evidence of his claim and causing people to neglect shots for that year. Sadly, due to that article, 1 in 4 parents still believe that vaccines are

Some believe immunization can cause autism, brain damage, multiple sclerosis, seizures, or life-threatening anaphylaxis. While it’s best to show respect for these opinions, I simply disagree and am guided by evidenced-based data that illustrates no link between the dangers listed above and immunizations (Vaccines & Immunizations, 2010). According to CDC, there are several different types of studies pertaining to, maintaining and ensuring the safety vaccines including clinical trials, laboratory tests, and animal studies. There is constant monitoring of the safety of vaccines from scientist, along with federal government, state, and local health departments, other partners, and the public. CDC also monitors the safety of vaccines through a series of activities such as: VAERS (vaccine adverse event reporting system), clinical immunization safety assessment project, vaccine safety datalink, and emergency preparedness for vaccine safety (Vaccines & Immunizations, 2010). High-quality research, broad understanding, constant monitoring, evolving knowledge and understanding, and public health surveillance approach coupled with the many major medical organizations such as CDC, IOM, AAP, AMA, and FDA to a name a few contribute to the validity of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and immunizations. In a controversial topic, when one side has sufficient and manifested scientific facts followed and supported by world-renowned sources, and the other side simply strong opinions and beliefs, swayed views lacking data and evidence-based research, and uncreditable sources linking a cause to conditions without regard to scientific

Wakefield published a study on the effects of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)-vaccine, specifically the “mercury” based and the vaccine instigating the onset of autism (Wakefield para 3). Wakefield’s study involved 12 individuals whose medical background was altered in order to support his study (Goodlee para 2). After 12 years of Wakefield’s research being published, his findings were found to be inaccurate. Many doctors and scientists alike have proven his theory wrong, causing the magazine that published the article to fully retract it (Goodlee para 2). However, the damage caused by Wakefield’s false findings has yet to be undone. The number in vaccinations dropped and the number of deadly diseases ultimately rose (Goodlee para 8). Despite study after study proving that Wakefield blatantly falsified his findings, many parents including, celebrities like Jenny McCarthy, continue to advocate against vaccinations and blame the MMR-vaccine for her child’s autism diagnosis.

For years the topic of vaccination and its link to Autism has been a very controversial topic. In America, it has been an intense debate for decades. Many parents feel as though they shouldn’t have to vaccinate or be required to vaccinate their children because vaccinations can cause diseases like autism and even death. Others feel that their children shouldn’t have to risk getting infected by a child that hasn’t been vaccinated. Many people feel as if those who don’t get vaccinated are a danger to society. The government has put protocols in place for children when it comes to vaccinations. The parents who disagree with those protocols make special arrangements for their children, so that they are not exposed to the potential risks of

In the article, “Vaccines Cause Autism,” Michael Snyder, an attorney and writer, attempts to convince parents of young children that autism is directly linked to childhood vaccinations. He claims that numerous toxins, including thimerosal, are present in vaccines that are forced into the bloodstream, later causing neurological and brain damage to children. He says that autism has risen by 78 percent over the past decade, and that 1/88 children in the US have an autistic disorder. Snyder believes that most autistic individuals start out completely normal, and that the vaccinations they are given are harming them. He blames the pharmaceutical companies for being too

One could easily think that vaccinating their child is not safe. According to their website, “Vaccines are “unavoidably unsafe” and contain “unavoidable” viruses, phages (viruses that infect bacteria), and contaminants”(StopMandatotyVaccination.com, par.3). Vaccines are inevitably unsafe and contain many unavoidable bacteria. Vaccines contain bacterias, viruses, and bacteriophages, which are completely unsafe and inescapable. Although the core of this argument seems valid, it has a mistake in its logic. Not all medicine is perfect, but for the most part vaccines are completely safe to be given to a child so that they can be correctly immunized. Vaccines have to be approved by major administrations like the Food and Drug Administration and for

Vaccines have been used to prevent diseases for centuries, and have saved countless lives of children and adults. The smallpox vaccine was invented as early as 1796, and since then the use of vaccines has continued to protect us from countless life threatening diseases such as polio, measles, and pertussis. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) assures that vaccines are extensively tested by scientist to make sure they are effective and safe, and must receive the approval of the Food and Drug Administration before being used. “Perhaps the greatest success story in public health is the reduction of infectious diseases due to the use of vaccines” (CDC, 2010). Routine immunization has eliminated smallpox from the globe and

Firstly, vaccines are especially harmful to children. A person receives vaccines throughout their entire life span, yet most are given starting at birth and before the age of two when the body’s immune system is just beginning to develop. A vaccine is considered effective if it prevents the infection it is meant to prevent and help control an outbreak of a certain infection if one occurs. However, just because a majority of people in a certain area are vaccinated does not mean that an outbreak will not occur: “one example [is] an outbreak of measles that occurred in a group where more than 99 percent of the population had been vaccinated” (Tenpenny). Different vaccines have many different ingredients. Some ingredients found in vaccines include “formaldehyde, aluminum and thimerosal . . . [a] dangerous mercury derivative” (Miller). Mercury in any form is poisonous, especially to children under the age of two with underdeveloped

Vaccinations are said to be the best thing since sliced bread. They are credited with eliminating childhood diseases and protecting us from possible pandemics. So what could possibly be the problem with vaccinations? Vaccinations contain ingredients used by funeral directors to preserve dead bodies (Scheibner p. 255). That, plus the fact that children in the United States receive more vaccines and antibiotics than any other children in our history and our children are sicker than ever (O’Shea p. 54). Finally, vaccinations are a multibillion dollar a year business, making 33.8 billion in 2012 alone (“Vaccines Market will Reach 33.8 Billion dollars in 2012” Visiongain Report Predict.”). Anything involving that much money makes me skeptical. Government mandates threaten to block admission to schools if vaccinations are not complete. Pediatricians refuse to see children not fully vaccinated because of vaccination tracking. Parents are responsible for guiding and protecting their children to adulthood and parents should have the right to choose what vaccinations their children should get or if they should get any.

Nonetheless, the vaccination process is safe and effective. Vaccines undergo extensive review by medical scientist, doctors, and federal government officials to insure that they are safe for humans. When children don’t receive these vaccines, they can succumb to more serious health complications, which includes paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, brain damage, and even death. Along with those risks, a unvaccinated child going out in public can possibly expose diseases to other children who are too young to receive vaccines or individuals with weakened immune systems. When the health industry has large professional associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Centers for Disease Control

One of the main argument against vaccination is that ‘all vaccines contain toxic chemicals and poisons such as glycerin which is toxic to the kidney, liver and can cause lung damage’. (Thehealthyhomeeconomist.com, 2015). The claim that vaccine causes more damage, more problems and side effects instead of protecting children against infectious diseases and other complex diseases for instance chronic organ damage and diseases (such as cancer) is not supported by evidence. This claim cannot be taken into account because it is based on the personal anecdotal. The effects that a person encountered at the time of vaccine is for a short term. In addition, it cannot be proven if it is the vaccine that causes some incidents that occurred however scientists are aware of these incidents and that is why the vaccine is under control to minimize these issues. For instance, the immunizations in Australia must and have to pass 'stringent security testing' before being endorsed to be