The Pros And Cons Of Vaccines

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

The choice to vaccinate a child holds much debate in society today. As a person that lives in America, you may feel it is your right to be able to choose what medical needs and necessities you would want for your child or yourself. “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting 29 doses of 9 vaccines (plus a yearly flu shot after six months old) for kids aged 0 to six. No US federal laws mandate vaccination, but all 50 states require certain vaccinations for children entering public schools. Even though vaccines are considered extremely safe there are cases where in some people have a type of allergic reaction. Most states offer medical and religious exemptions; and some states allow philosophical exemptions” (Wadman, 2017). This point calls for a lot of debate, both in the scholarly world and among average citizens. Some people claim that such medical conditions, such as autism are the result of over vaccinating or dosing at early ages of development. Reasons on the topic vary, and concerns can end up in long legal disputes. Such disputes have raised the question of vaccine safety, prevention, and government intervention.

If you had the choice, would you prefer a child with autism or a deceased child because you refused to vaccinate? Chances are, you would prefer to have a child with autism. There are parents who have read articles falsely linking vaccines to autism causing them to make the decision to deny vaccinations. Their refusal not only puts their child at risk, but other children surrounding them. Their denial erases the long-standing history of saving lives and the eradication of deadly diseases around the world. This also undermines the research and testing scientists have done in order to protect people. It is vital to the health of human life that we keep researching and finding new information about vaccines.

“From the time they are born, babies face numerous immunizations- up to 28 shots by age 2.” (NCSL 2015) A great deal of research has gone into testing the safety of these vaccines and their effects both immediate and long-term. With predominant research showing that parents should vaccinate their children; however, many disagree with this research. In recent years there has been a large push by parents to opt out of vaccinating their children. This has, in part, been caused by the idea that vaccines could cause autism and other similar developmental disabilities.

Millions of parents before the school year go out and get their children vaccinated, to be safe and ready for the upcoming school year. There are several different types of vaccinations for different diseases. Some different vaccinations that protect your child are the measles vaccination, flu shot, diphtheria vaccination, tetanus shot, all 3 hepatitis vaccinations, and many more. The first vaccine was created on May 14, 1796 with smaller pox. One of the first vaccines to totally wipe out a contagious disease was for the HIB disease which could lead to infection in the brain and spinal cord and inflammation in the voice box, and infection in joints, blood, bones, and the pericardium which covers your heart. Vaccine was licensed in 1985, which eliminated the disease in the developing world. Vaccinations should be required for all children, because they will be less likely to get disease, it is covered by insurance, and if they aren’t vaccinated it could put public health in danger.

It is a common argument debated about whether or not a child should get vaccinated. Many parents will argue that vaccinating their children isn't healthy. Some individuals believe vaccines can cause more damage than not getting vaccinated. Many doctors are encouraging parents and guardians to vaccinate their children for the antibodies in the vaccinations help protect people if they are exposed to the virus in the future. Vaccines have saved many lives and will continue to as long as people are vaccinating. Vaccines are safe, with FDA approval vaccines are monitored for safety and are studied to be administered to protect children. Vaccines does not cause autism, this is the main argument for parents not wanting to vaccinate their children. Vaccinations should be mandatory in order to keep diseases from spreading and killing off people like it has in the past.

On January 1, 2016, the state of California passed a law that requires every student entering into a public school, charter school, and private school would need a vaccination too enroll (EdSource, 2016). Understanding this law and how it affects school children is important. This information is important to school officials with enforcing the California State Vaccination Laws before enrollment. Deciphering why some parents feel vaccinations are safe, and others find vaccinations dangerous and deadly but the state of California had the final decision.

Vaccines are safe, and one of the greatest developments in the 20th century that improves our health and longevity. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 9 vaccines that are covered in 29 doses, but there is no federal law that mandates vaccinations. There is a large debate over the morality of forcing people to vaccinate. Many people do not fully understand what a vaccine is, and this may cause some confusion and evasion. A vaccine protects and prepares a body for exposure to a particular disease. This allows the body to develop an immunity to that disease and to build a resistance if contracted in its lifetime. This paper will provide sufficient evidence that shows the development and research spent creating vaccines as well as the impact they provide to society. First, explaining what vaccinations are as well as their benefits to the body. Then, the large impact that they can have when administered universally to improve the overall health of humans. Finally, explaining what the side effects are, in comparison to contracting a disease that can occur in humans. The government should step in and mandate vaccinations because they shouldn’t be optional. Vaccines offer protection and should be mandatory since they provide a significant impact for better health.

In 2014, one of the worst contagious disease outbreaks in recent United States history was at its height. Measles, a highly infectious respiratory illness, spread through workers at Disneyland in California and from there, it spread throughout the American Southeast. At the end of the outbreak in February 2015, the Center for Disease Control reported approximately 147 cases in Oregon, Mexico, California, Nevada, Colorado, and Washington. While no deaths occurred because of this outbreak, vaccines could have entirely prevented the epidemic (Chemerinsky and Goodwin 590). Vaccines are a controversial subject within the United States with two very clear sides. While some believe that compulsory vaccination laws violate the ability of the parents to make decisions for their children, in reality it will only serve to improve public health and decrease the risk of preventable disease outbreaks.

Live mice brains, aborted human fetus cells, canine fetus cells, and beef extract are just a few disturbing items one may find in a vaccine ingredient list (“Vaccines ProCon”). These irksome items are accompanied by harmful chemicals such as thimerosal and formaldehyde, both of which, can be toxic towards humans when exposed in copious amounts and can even trigger leukemia and brain cancer; leading an individual to death. Likewise, the ingredient lists alone should be enough to make any pro-vaccine individual or vegan alike, distance themselves from a cold, metal needle.

One of the greatest products that humans have ever created are vaccines. Vaccines are created to protect us from infectious and life threaten diseases. In today’s world, vaccines play a major role in enhancing our immunity and expanding our life span. The use of vaccines can be found in Chinese ancient medicine, where early Chinese doctor used an early version of smallpox vaccine to inoculate their citizens. This method of early vaccination moved from Asia through European and Africa continent. It wasn’t until in the late 1700’s when Edward Jenner discovered how to manipulate small pox and turn it into a vaccine and thus creating an immunity for millions of people. Jenner’s early use of the small pox vaccination lead to many more vaccines such as Hep B, MMR and the all-important polio which has completed wipe the disease from many develop countries. Although vaccines have played a crucial role in our human growth and development, there are people who still refuse to give vaccines to their children. Many debates and controversies have popped up in recent concerning vaccines and how much and how often they are received.

In recent years, the vaccine and anti-vaccine issue has hit major headlines. As of July 2016, California law states “Public elementary schools and secondary schools cannot admit children unless they are immunized against 10 diseases: diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b (bacterial meningitis), measles, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, rubella, tetanus, hepatitis B and chicken pox.” Children with medical conditions such as immune-system deficiencies and allergies, confirmed by a physician, can be excused from immunization. (Perkins) California does not stand alone, all 50 states have some variation of this law. Despite the law, should these vaccines be a requirement to enroll in public school? Vaccines build your body's immune system so that, in the future, it's able to fight against a specific disease. Having children vaccinated early on in their academic careers is beneficial to all of society.

Diseases have been around since the beginning of time. In response of disease, vaccinations were developed. Since the 1800’s, vaccines have been protecting adults and children from fatal diseases by building up immunity within the human body against such communicable diseases like smallpox, measles, and tuberculosis. Throughout history, vaccines have been widely accepted as mandatory for life events such as travel and school. While most of the world population welcomed vaccines enthusiastically, there are groups of people that believe the vaccines are more harmful than helpful.

vaccines than by the diseases themselves” (Wisconsin for Vaccine choice). The first example of this, in Vaccines a Reappraisal, Dr. Richard Moskowitz points out an example of a parent who left the exam room for a moment and never had the opportunity to give or refuse permission for the doctor to give their child a flu shot. A few days later the child was found blue in his crib and rushed to the hospital. Regrettably, this child suffered severe brain damage, and the doctors encouraged the parents to remove the child from life support (110). Furthermore, he recognizes there are the parents who have to live with the guilt, like this example, “My son died 40 hours after his 2-month shots. I’d never heard of vaccine injury before. I feel guilty every day because it was the one thing I didn’t look into and wish I did” (Moskowitz 51). The current trend to choose not vaccinating children causes legitimate concerns about the spread of disease and receives a great deal of news coverage; while the mainstream media under-reports the numerous stories of children injured and dying from vaccinations.

Parents are always challenged with the question, to vaccinate their child or not? Some might say it is one of the most stressful questions they might have to ask themselves after becoming a parent. A possible reason most parents struggle with deciding to vaccinate their child or not: they face the fear whether their child might get diagnosed with Autism when they are vaccinated. There also lies the fear that children might acquire those deadly and harmful viruses that are injected into their immune system. Generally, most people believe that vaccines should be enforced to receive worldwide; as in, kids should not be able to enter schools until they have proof that they were vaccinated. Just like how dogs are supposed to receive shots to prevent rabies, every human should keep up with all of their shots in order to prevent terrible diseases to make a comeback globally. Vaccines should become mandatory because they are known to increase life expectancy worldwide, they prevent the spread of deadly viruses and diseases, and the consequences outweigh the slim risks that could be caused.