Childhood Vaccination Research

Controversially to Dr. Hillman’s extensive efforts and research, there are “…disturbing numbers [that] may suggest why parents are still postponing, or avoiding vaccinations altogether” (Recame, 2012). Parents have experienced fear about vaccine-induced autism after the United Kingdom argued that “the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination (MMR) contained toxins that that could penetrate the gastrointestinal tract, eventually affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and the brain” (Recame,

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,

Hendrix, Kristin S., et al. "Ethics and Childhood Vaccination Policy in the United States." American Journal of Public Health, vol. 106, no. 2, Feb. 2016, pp. 273-278. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2105/AJPH.2015.302952.

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

In healthcare, we are seeing an influx of children with diseases that were once eradicated by vaccinations. It does not help that in recent years many public figures, be it actors or politicians, have begun speaking out about the effects vaccinations potentially have on children. Whether they have done the proper research or not, their fame and notoriety brings about attention that most would not. So, what does the increase in non-vaccinated children mean to the rest of those that accepted the vaccinations. A closer look at immunizations for adults and children, the herd immunity that is in jeopardy, and the culture and reasoning of the anti-vaccination group may shed some light on the culture of anti-vaccination.

Every parent faces a psychological tornado of circling debates ultimately spiraling out to, "I will do what I believe is best for my child". A bill has been proposed in the California senate that has parents standing firm on either side of it: strongly supporting and fiercely opposing. Senate bill 277 aims to remove philosophical, or personal, beliefs as an acceptable exemption from vaccinations. It proposes that parents only have the option to opt out of immunization if their child has a physical or medical condition that would, in combination with the vaccine, cause damage. The most common acceptable conditions include autoimmune disease or immune deficiency, a serious allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine, or a previously reported adverse reaction to the vaccine

Childhood vaccinations are important because it creates an immunity among an entire community. 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. 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 different terms, when a large age group of people, children, are vaccinated and therefore immune to disease, everyone else is protected as well indirectly. As well as unintentionally

Providing immunization to human beings by vaccination is one of the greatest achievements in the public health field. It is responsible for a significant increase in the quality of life for children in 21st century compared to the previous era. Childhood vaccination is usually provided at a young age as a routine service in specific clinics or other health facilities. Children are required to receive specific scheduled vaccinations shortly after they are born. Vaccinations can also be received in specific public campaigns where a specialized trained team provide vaccines to people in a targeted area for a few days or even weeks. The purpose of these is to provide maximum protection to the population in a short amount of time. Despite this,

Children come into the world defenseless and vulnerable. The lifelong health of a child begins with what type of defense can be built up. Childhood vaccine schedules are the first step in healthcare for children. A vaccine schedule is a calendar with a combination of vaccines at set intervals and ages for children to receive from birth to six years old *******. The recommended combination of vaccines on the schedule minimizes the amount of times a child needs to get vaccines. Maximizing the number of vaccines a child receives at a time guarantees by school age, the child will meet requirements for enrolling in school. The childhood vaccination schedule was created to be beneficial for children.

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

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.

One such factor helping to manifest these large-scale epidemics is a study from 1998 by Andrew Wakefield, which claimed that there was a direct link between autism and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine (Smith 1). As a result, many parents refused to vaccinate their children out of fear, and vaccine-preventable diseases like measles began reappearing more in both America and Britain, the place where Wakefield conducted his study (Cohen 2). Although a later investigation by the British Medical Journal discovered that Wakefield had distorted or altered the medical records of all twelve of the study’s participants and that he had been paid $674,000 USD by lawyers attempting to sue vaccine manufacturers, the atmosphere of apprehension surrounding vaccines is still strong among many individuals, and especially parents (Cohen 1-2). But despite all the controversy and the scientifically unsupported arguments of anti-vaccine sympathizers,

From a standpoint, the probable statement is agreeable; but it does not take account of the actual reality. Since a child is still in the stages of early development, it is true that their growth is fragile and any risks taken could endanger their life. Vaccinations are strongly encouraged, specifically the MMR vaccine; but the main concern is if it will actually strengthen a child’s immunity than induce harm. In 2013, the federal Vaccine injury compensation program, awarded millions of dollars to a child; Ryan Mojabi. (Kirby 2013) The 10 year old boy received vaccinations back to back from 2003-2005, including the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccinations. The vaccinations caused a “severe and debilitating injury to his brain.” (Kirby 2013) Parents of Mojabi observed symptoms of encephalopathy as a result of his MMR vaccination shortly. Ryan was found constantly screaming, lost his “vibrant energy” and spoke on a rare occasion basis compared to as much as he did prior to the vaccination. When Ryan was rushed to the hospital, he was vomiting with a high fever and had red spots circulating throughout his body. He was later on diagnosed with “Febrile Convulsion,” it was a devastating experience for the Mojabi’s. Nevertheless did the argument argue powerfully that written medical records, and the recollections of Ryan’s doctor were inconsistent with his parents’ testimony; albeit the Ryan Mojabi case did appear as weak. On the other hand, in 2004; a study conducted by Dr. Frank DeStefano and colleagues from the CDC and Abt Associates, confirmed that there was no indication that children with autism were more likely to have been exposed to more antigens through vaccines either in single doctor’s visit. The study was conducted through analyzed data from 256 children

Before vaccines were invented, whenever an individual contracted a disease, it would easily spread to the people who were in contact with the individual. Many became carriers of the disease, resulting in an outbreak. No one was immune from the disease, thus making the vast majority a suitable host for the pathogen. In 1796, British physician Edward Jenner created the first vaccination for smallpox by applying matters of fresh cowpox lesions on an infected eight years old’s hand (Riedel 2005). The fundamental principle behind vaccine is by injecting an antigen (usually a killed or weakened bacteria cell) into a host body; the antigen will imitate an infection and attack the host body. However, since the antigen is weakened or dead before being administered, it will not make the body sick. The antigen triggers the immune system to produce T-lymphocytes1, B-lymphocytes2 and antibodies to attack the affected cells, as though the body was infected with a disease. In the future, when the vaccinated individual encounters the disease, his or her immune system will recognize the pathogen and immediately produce the needed antibodies to fight it, preventing the individual from infected (“Understanding How Vaccines Work” 2013).

A vaccine works by tricking the body’s immune system into creating antibodies that fight an innocuous form of the virus. The antibodies then remain in the body, and if the person encounters the real virus, they are protected against it. The history of vaccines actually goes as far back as 200BC India or China, when it was discovered that some diseases do not infect those who have already been infected by it. This discovery led people to infect themselves with inoculated matter, thus protecting them from the disease. The first vaccine dates back to 1796 when Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine using a weakend version of the cowpox disease. The concept of vaccinations through inoculation is considered by many to be one of the great science revelations of the 20th century.