Smallpox Vaccines Argumentative Analysis

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.

Childhood vaccinations have not been a topic of controversy until recent times. Due to the recent outbreaks of diseases that were thought to be eliminated, people are now investigating vaccinations. State representatives and Congressional people have even gotten on the bandwagon to emphasize the importance of vaccinations. Many states already require children to be vaccinated before entering school, but states allow religious, medical, or personal exemptions. Getting rid of these exemptions would be beneficial to not only parents and children, but also to members of society. Having children vaccinated at a young age when the immune system can respond correctly to vaccines will benefit the future health of children. Children are more at danger at a younger age to catch infectious diseases. Vaccines are a safe way to prevent the child from getting sick. “Proponents say that vaccination is safe and one of the greatest health developments of the 20th century”

Still, though, there are people that still believe MMR vaccinations cause autism. Andrew Wakefield is one of those individuals that believe that MMR vaccinations cause autism. Wakefield has been found guilty of fraud and dishonesty. Thus, causing him to lose his credentials. Wakefield still denies that he was wrong and he denies the allegations of fraud (Godlee et al., 2011). The GMC (General Medicine Counsel), the organization that removed Wakefield’s credentials; furthermore the GMC has asked him to either reproduce the results or say he was wrong. Wakefield has neglected to do either. One of the worst things about this is five years after being retracted one out of four Americans will not get their children vaccinated because they believe that MMR vaccinations cause autism. Vaccination rates are higher than they were ten years ago, but they are still not high enough. In the United States of America, MMR vaccination rates are at 92% and in the UK they are at 90%. These percentages are pretty good considering that in the UK rates dropped below 75% and below 58% in some areas (Kolodziejski, 2014. p.165), (Burgess et al,. 2006. p.3921). The numbers are improving, but it is still not high enough it should be around

A person’s health can be one of the most important aspects in their life. When thinking about what can help one to remain healthy, vaccinations come to mind. Vaccinations, to many people, are a necessity to remain healthy. I know when I was younger I hated to get a shot, but when I think about it today I am glad my parents made me get them. My mother was a nurse, so she knew the importance of vaccinations. Unfortunately, in todays’ society some parents think vaccinations can be more harmful then helpful, therefore refusing to vaccinate their children. The articles “How Vaccines Protect Us All” by Harrison Wein and “Beliefs About Childhood Vaccinations is the United States: Political Ideology, False Consensus, and the Illusion of Uniqueness” by Mitchell Rabinowitz, Lauren Latella, Chadly Stern, and John Jost both talk about vaccinations as the main point. While both of the articles talk about the importance of vaccinations and how they should be required, the first article by Harrison Wein talks more about how vaccinations protect the community and the second article by Rabinowitz et al. talks about how parents have the control of their children’s vaccinations. However, both articles prove readers to believe vaccinations can help keep children safe and healthy.

For many years, there has been a controversy about whether or not vaccinations should be mandated for everyone. In the United States, many diseases such as polio, diphtheria, measles, and whooping cough used to be extremely common, until vaccinations came around and started preventing these diseases. The main point for vaccines is to prepare a person’s immune system for any possible attack of a disease that comes in the future; a person’s body will be prepared to fight off the disease with the vaccine (“Basics”). Vaccines have the ability to prevent many cases of these diseases in advanced, but there are people who think vaccines are unnatural and should not be required for their children. It is said that immunity in child vaccines are about 90%-100%, which is an increase over the past few years (“Childhood”). Although many Americans believe that vaccines are unsafe and cause autism in children, vaccinations for children should be mandatory because they can save a child’s life, create herd immunity in a community, and they have been proven safe/cost-effective.

Since the invention of the vaccine, countless lives benefit from the protection against serious life-threatening diseases. Despite strong integration in modern medicine, an anti-vaccine movement impinges upon concerned parents throughout our country. Even though, vaccinations protect immunity majority of the time, vaccines should not be mandatory in all aspects, as it invades upon parental right, however, the presence of required vaccines in the public schools with limited nonmedical exemptions is a must.

The first major concern parents have when it comes to childhood vaccinations is that of the health and safety of their children. Some parents

In the year 1998, Dr. Andrew Wakefield published a scientific article that would eventually weaken the human species in both Europe and the United States and sow distrust in the idea of getting children properly vaccinated (Kolodziejski). In his article, Dr. Wakefield falsely claimed that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine could be connected with the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Kolodziejski). Unfortunately, even though Dr. Wakefield’s study was discredited the “damage was already done” (McLeod 8). The article caused a decline of vaccinations of children by their parents for fear of unintentionally inflicting ASD upon them. Years later, Celebrities Jenny

According to Rao & Andrade (2011), Andrew Wakefield and 12 of his partners carried out a selective unethical sample on few children to support their idea and the result gotten from their case study was released to the public through Lancet, suggesting that measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, commonly called MMR may affect children’s behavior and damage their developmental growth (MMR vaccine is likely going to set off autism) in 1998. The public received the false information with good faith and lo and behold the MMR vaccination rates started dropping due to the erroneous report.

Vaccinations has become controversial in recent years. A growing number of parents feel that vaccines can cause harm. They believe that they have the right to decide whether or not to have their children vaccinated (“Introduction to Vaccines: Current Controversies” 6). This is true, however, public health and individual rights should be equally taken into consideration. While there is growing number of people who claims that mandatory vaccinations is against civil liberties and are not safe, vaccinations are scientifically proven to be effective and have given greater benefits to public health.

Parents are worried with their child’s well-being. But, this apprehension can take several directions. Although some parents are certain that vaccines were created to stop the person-to-person transmitted diseases, which otherwise can have serious health implications on

There are no federal laws in place to regulate vaccines for children, but every state has requirements for children being enrolled into the public school system. Some parents believe that vaccines are more harmful than beneficial, they feel forced into having their kids immunized just to attend school. They believe that adverse reactions from vaccines can lead to serious conditions, such as autism. However, extensive studies were conducted and no link was made between vaccines and autism. Vaccines have saved millions of children’s of lives opposed to the number of vaccine induced adverse reactions, only 48 of the states allow religious exceptions from vaccinations while 19 have philosophical exemption’s.

Furthermore, there are beneficial reasons for embracing vaccinations for one’s children. Children are especially vulnerable to disease because their immune systems have not yet developed, and getting a serious illness can have

The controversy concerning vaccination for children has been a debate for many parents. A vaccine is defined as a biological agent used to prevent very serious illnesses and diseases, such as smallpox, measles, influenza, tuberculosis, and hepatitis by injecting a weakened infectious organism into the human body. When vaccines are given, the human body produces antibodies against the foreign substance, thus creating a defense mechanism for immunity to occur. Parenting decisions based on vaccinations are a sensitive matter in a child’s life. Many parents favor vaccines because they care about their children’s health during the first years of their lives. There are parents who fully trust and admire doctors for their efforts in contributing

During the last ten years or so, there has been a debate on childhood vaccinations. This debate all started from the acquisition that vaccines cause autism. Since the debate, many parents have been skeptical on whether or not they will get their children vaccinated. From the negative comments that are going around from highly respected people new parents doubt vaccines importance to the world. Parents are concerned, which they should be, about if vaccines are beneficial or harmful to their kid’s health? Some claim that vaccinations are needless and unsafe. With the misleading information in parent’s ears they are stuck with the big question. Should I vaccinate my child?