The debate over vaccinations continues to dominate the public health domain, with parties on both sides of the aisle taking a strong stance in their views. On one side, there are critics that identify personal reasons or beliefs to utilize exemptions from vaccinating a child. On the other side, there are advocates who recognize serious illnesses and diseases that societies could be exposed to and promote vaccinations to aid in preventing the spread of such infections. Understanding the concerns raised from both sides, my perspective on this issue must side with that of scientific-based evidence. There are numerous studies from various public health organizations and researchers that validate childhood vaccinations supporting preventable …show more content…
One mother from the documentary stated that her child’s health is a private affair, not a public one. Personally, I reject this notion because once her unvaccinated child goes into the public arena, her child’s health is no longer a private matter and could potentially jeopardize the health of others. The same mother in the documentary also stated that she would rather have her child get sick as opposed to getting a vaccine because “getting sick is not a bad thing.” Unfortunately, there are many parents out there that support this type of pseudoscientific belief (Miller, 2015). This type of mentality and thought process does not register well with me as I base my beliefs on facts, not on theories. Others in the documentary stated that the amount of vaccines administered to children has increased over the years and providing several immunizations to a child can hinder a child’s immune system, although studies have suggested this hypothesis to be contrary (Miller, 2015).
When it comes to understanding the opponents of vaccinations, it all comes down to how a parent is perceiving the benefits and risks for their child. Anti-vaccine individuals do not weigh this type on how it will impact society, they focus on if their child will suffer a consequence from vaccinating (Hicks, 2017). Some skeptics also state opposition due to religious beliefs, yet none of the well-recognized religions practiced around the world such as
Vaccinations have gone through opposition and critics, but for the most part legislation has been slow, but treated vaccination fairly. To this day vaccination still faces many of the challenges that it faced in the early nineteenth century. The reasons have gone from personal freedom issues and just the overall effectiveness of mass immunization. The courts in the nineteenth century typically supported the enactment of mandatory vaccination programs. Most importantly for the future of mandatory vaccination policy, one important Supreme Court decision in the early part of the twentieth century acknowledged the power of state governments to mandate vaccination.
In the past, Americans did not have much say in their own health care. In today’s time, with the advent of new health-care bills and peaked interest in personal well being, Americans are now anxious to determine for themselves what they need to maintain their own and their loved ones’ health. However, there are still government-regulated requirements for people of all ages in regards to keeping the general public healthy. Vaccinations have always been a topic of contention in regards to younger children, but have been a staple of health for older adults. In fact, college requirements for vaccinations are mandatory, and failure to get the proper vaccines before college starts could result in holds on college students’ accounts or delays in
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,
Vaccination is a complex topic that has proven to be so contentious that most people have decided that they either support vaccination or oppose it, with neither side willing to even entertain the idea of meeting in the middle or finding common ground. On one side, those who oppose vaccinations do so for a variety of reasons, but most of all they do so because they think vaccines are dangerous or ineffective. Many of the opposed defend their anti-vaccination position by citing studies linking vaccines to autism and other debilitating side effects, or by voicing concerns over vaccines containing unsafe ingredients that may harm vaccinated children. Also questioned is the effectiveness of vaccines, if they are even needed, or even why vaccinating matters if those who are vaccinated are so confident that vaccinations work. On the other side of the fence, the people who support vaccinations believe that, due to the benefits of vaccines far outweighing any associated risks,
Since their first introduction in the late 1700s, vaccinations have been a controversial topic of discussion. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent the spread of disease. Although we can attribute the eradication and control of many diseases to vaccinations, there are still many Americans who are refusing to vaccinate their children based on their belief in a few unfounded fears. Most of these fears that the anti vaccine community believes are centered around the health risks involved with the practice of vaccinating. The majority of these fears have been disproven through extensive research. With the continued research and innovations of the
It’s hard to imagine a world without vaccines—a world where “getting sick” had the potential to be fatal (or at least cause irreparable damage to one’s body). In this world, diseases robbed millions of bright-eyed children of their lives. Thankfully, though, with the development of vaccines, populations have grown larger and healthier over the past century. Sadly, despite the improved longevity of our species, many people are still undecided about—or vehemently against—childhood vaccination. They claim that vaccinations are dangerous and responsible for autism and other conditions. Medical experts, however, refute these claims by citing both the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations. In fact, according to Centers for Disease Control and
Vaccinations first surfaced during the turn of the 19th century. It is currently a law that all school aged children receive a specific list of vaccinations in order to attend a school system of any kind. While the requirements in America are general consistent from state to state, they do vary slightly across one another. Although it is required, there is a list of exemptions that would allow parents to send their children to school without receiving the required immunizations. An example of the exceptions are, medical reasons that would mean the child is not stable enough to receive these vaccinations, or a family that has specific religious beliefs and cannot vaccinate. Those children that are not protected rely on us with able children
Many vaccines are “designed to protect infants and children early in life” (“What are the Reasons to Vaccinate My Baby?”, 2016, para. 9). This shows that scientists are working hard to protect children at a young age. When one vaccinates his or her child at a young age, it not only protects during childhood, but also adulthood. This keeps the child healthy all of his or her life. Not only do children need protection early in childhood, but also the right amounts of dosages. “Not receiving the full number of doses leaves a child vulnerable to catching serious diseases” (“What are the Reasons to Vaccinate My Baby?”, 2016, para. 10). This allows people to understand that children can still be prone to diseases if they do not have the recommended amount. For a child, it is needed to receive the full dosages to be fully protected. A recommended immunization schedule has been created for the public. This schedule proposes the design on how to protect children early on in their lives before “being exposed to the potentially life threatening diseases” (“What are the Reasons to Vaccinate My Baby?”, 2016, para. 10). Receiving immunizations at a certain age also helps the vaccine do its job in the best way. Due to children needing vaccinations early in life to keep them healthy, it creates another reason as to why people support
Mandated Vaccinations are a huge argument right now because of health and disease issues. There are people on both sides of this argument. Some people are against vaccinating their children because they feel they are being forced to have their child get vaccinated. While some people feel the need that vaccinations are important to protect themselves from any illness or diseases. Vaccinations should be mandatory for all schools and health care purposes.
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,
In less than fifteen weeks, I am going to be an aunt of a beautiful baby girl. I have many dreams for her, none of which include her becoming ill from a deadly disease just because she or others around her are not properly vaccinated. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a vaccine is “a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease” (“Immunization: The Basics”). Vaccination has been a controversial issue for many decades in the United States. Some people support mandatory vaccination of children because they believe that it is necessary to keep the entire population safe from preventable diseases, while others oppose it because they think it should be the parents’ choice whether or not to vaccinate their children. Although certain religious groups may have objections to vaccinations, requiring parents to vaccinate their children is in the best interest of the lives of the American civic society because vaccines are safe, economic benefits would accrue to society, and they save the lives of many people both in present and future generations.
Should children be vaccinated? This is a question that has been a hot topic for some time now. All children should be vaccinated. We often ask “Why should we have our children vaccinated”? There are pros and cons to vaccinations. Vaccinations will reduce the risk of illness, provide a safer environment, and keep the parents from worry as much. In some cases, people think they cause more harm than anything.
The intended purpose of this presentation is to provide facts and scientific research that persuades the audience members regarding the use of vaccinations. My intention is that the audience will support the use of vaccinations and consider the facts before making decisions that affect the entire community. My central idea is that inaccurate data exists with regards to vaccination; instead, that vaccinations should be viewed as essential for protection of society, both from extreme illness as well as life threatening, and sometimes fatal, diseases.
It used to be that vaccinations were considered a normal part of childhood, right along with loosing teeth and toilet training. However, in recent years vaccinations have become an extremely hot button issue, with many parents actually choosing not to vaccinate their children. The idea seems preposterous considering how many people were left with twisted backs, and withered limbs due to polio, or the amount of deaths as a result of measles. To see someone who has been left in an iron lung from a disease that is now preventable, and still choose not to prevent the disease seems absolutely asinine, and yet many parents are doing just that. Sadly, much of the fear of vaccines stems from Dr. Andrew Wakefield, and his fraudulent research that
Despite vaccinations being credited for the control and elimination of several childhood diseases, there are still many critics who raise concerns about the necessity of vaccination. In a national study of parents performed in 2000, 19% indicated they had “concerns about vaccines” whereas in a subsequent survey performed in 2009 this number had risen to 50%. There has also been a rise in non-medical vaccine exemptions that has occurred over the last several years. In a 2010 national survey of physicians, 89% of respondents reported at least one vaccine refusal by a parent each month (Dempsey & Gowda, 2013). Opposers argue that making school vaccination mandatory is against their right to make personal medical decisions. They feel that the government has no place to force parents to vaccinate their children if the parents decide it is not in their child’s best interest. Many parents are disagreeable about the multiple vaccinations received at one time, which results in possible pain and discomfort for the child. Another argument against vaccination is the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Critics are concerned about the unknown risks vaccines pose to children. Some parents noted their child acquiring a “high fever” or beginning to “act different” after the administration of a vaccine. There is a belief that there is a connection between the measles vaccination and autism. Another theory is that the influenza