The Pros And Cons Of Vaccines

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

Diseases will always travel throughout the world and it will continue to affect children severely if they are not vaccinated. One source known as Benefits from Immunization During the Vaccines for Children Program Era pointed out that the number of children born each year can be prevented, “Approximately 4 million children are born in the United States each year, each of whom is vulnerable to vaccine-preventable pathogens that continue to circulate” (Whitney, Zhou, Singleton and Schuchat 4). The number of children born each year can have an enormous impact on society, there can be a massive epidemic. People do not want their child to be exposed to these deadly infectious disease, especially if they are preventable.

Anti-vaccination movements are hurting children and the people surrounding them. On the contrast, there is a pro-vaccination movement to advocate for those who cannot protect themselves. However, this movement is diminishing due to skewed facts in the media. This only comes back to haunt the parents who do not vaccinate their child, and the people who cannot be protected against it. Using vaccinations can irradiate diseases that have evolved over the years, saving millions of lives, and giving peace to lives lost from the disease (Jacobs, Charlotte DeCroes).

However, as a whole, vaccinating one's child could keep him/her and others from getting sick, and their are many reasons why parents should consider it. Side effects may occur, but are usually minor. “Most side effects from vaccinations are mild, such as soreness, swelling, or redness at the injection site” (History of Polio). The myth that vaccines cause autism has been debunked. Andrew Wakefield published an article insisting that the “measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine were increasing autism in British children. The article has since been discredited due to many different violations with it, and has since lost his medical licence. (The History of Vaccines) Another myth is to wait until the child is older because their immune systems can’t handle vaccines when young. If the child waits to get the vaccine, they may be more susceptible to the disease, putting a great risk of the child at getting the disease. According to Dr. Offit, “a baby’s body is bombarded with immunological challenges, from bacteria in food to the dust they breathe” (Vaccines - The Safest). This shows that a baby’s immune system is well adapted, and comes in contact with many airborne microbes. Compared to everything else a baby may come into contact with, the vaccine is nothing the immune system can’t handle (Ten Vaccine Myths). Lastly, some believe that because most people got vaccinated, the disease has been eradicated. While that may be true in most cases, it can be very risky not to get the vaccination. “The ability of immunizations to prevent the spread of infection depends on having a certain number of children immunized. Unfortunately, the level of immunization required to prevent diseases such as measles from spreading from child to child is high—95 percent" (Ten Vaccine Myths). Just because others got vaccinated does not guarantee one's safety from the disease. There are many misconceptions about

In the United States, vaccines are estimated to save 42,000 Americans each year from harmful diseases. Vaccines have been around for about 1,000 years and parents have disputed whether or not vaccinations should be mandatory or their own personal decision. Some parents believe that without vaccinations other children and adults are putting others at risk for diseases. But some parents disagree and think that they simply don’t do anything to help prevent diseases.

In support of compulsory vaccinations, to date, vaccinations have eradicated many deadly diseases such as smallpox where the last case was found in 1977 (Should Any Vaccines Be Required for Children?, 2018), and vaccinations are on track to eradicate many more including the deadly polio virus. The other major advantage of vaccinations is to prevent child deaths. Vaccinating children over the years has saved tens of millions of lives worldwide, and in doing so have also contributed to the eradication of many deadly diseases. Vaccinations are both safe and effective because as mentioned above, they cause the body to create an immunity against the specific disease, meaning in the future there is no risk of contracting the disease (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2016). Not only are vaccines effective but they are also extremely safe with only extremely minimal chances of side-effects, so it is argued that it seems logical to be vaccinated against potentially deadly diseases. Through the development of vaccines not only has it saved many lives but also improved the health of future generations through eradicating diseases (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2018). Additionally, vaccines have freed up many hospital beds, as well as allow more funding for diseases without vaccines or cures (Research Australia,

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.

Measles and rubella, diphtheria and whooping cough, smallpox and polio are some examples of diseases that have been prevented by vaccines (SC6). Epidemics that were common generations ago have almost been eliminated thanks to immunization. Some have even been eradicated in certain countries such as polio or smallpox in the United States. Even though these diseases are almost eliminated, it is still important to have future generations vaccinated to prevent certain diseases from reoccurring. Thankfully, with insurance, immunization can be cost-effective in comparison to the time and money spent on a child who can contract a disease that could have been prevented. As mentioned previously, the absolute success of a vaccination largely depends on the people. This is known as herd immunity. For the majority of diseases, herd immunity is prosperous when 80% or more of the population is vaccinated (AAP). When people begin to opt out of immunization, the safety of herd immunity deteriorates causing the risk of having a disease

The outbreak of disease can cost public health departments thousands of dollars per day. Vaccinations have a considerable influence on the reduction of healthcare costs including, the reduction of prescriptions, infections, and long-term care costs. Eradication and prevention of disease, coupled with saving in healthcare costs, offers additional resources for research and finding potential cures for other incurable diseases. As with any medical procedure, risk is involved. While the adverse effects of vaccination are plausible, they are considered minimal. Protecting the population is key in ensuring a healthy future. Bridging the gap with fact and fiction is imperative when weighing the benefit and risk of vaccination.

Immunization is defined as the process of giving immunity to prevent infectious diseases by artificial methods (The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia). Statistics show that vaccines prevent more than 2.5 million child deaths per year (Davey, et al 5). These deaths typically occur in children under the age of 5. Immunizations are arguably one of the most important benefits of modern medicine offered in our country. Vaccines are given to prevent a serious disease or illness. They are generally only given to healthy people to help boost immunity (Sanford, S52). Without vaccines diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), polio (IPV or OPV), diphtheria tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus Influenzae type b (HIB) and Hepatitis (HEP A, B, C) would still be prevalent (Sanford, S61). Within the 21st century, there have been many positive changes occurring throughout our world. Vaccination is the most important factor in reduction of deaths or serious diseases in children under the age of 5 (Kennedy, 1). Controversy remains if whether the risk of side effects from the vaccines, outweigh the risk of contracting the disease. Vaccinations have proven to be an effective method of preventing serious diseases, which are the cause of many childhood illnesses that often result in fatality (Kennedy, 1).

First of all, there is no doubt that vaccine works well to avoid the diseases. By comparing, some serious diseases can kill million of people once, and they spread quickly. Therefore, it is difficult to stop them as they start spreading. However, the vaccination becomes useful and efficient way to against this kind of disease. Polio is one example of the great impact that vaccines had have in the United States. Polio was once America’s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, because of vaccination, there reports of polio become less and less, even none of them.

The Center for Disease Control describes vaccines as the greatest development in public health since clean drinking water. For several decades, vaccines have saved countless lives and helped eradicate some fatal diseases. The push to do away with vaccines will not only endanger our youth, but our society as a whole. Vaccination is needed to maintain a healthy balance within our country. Vaccines provide the immunity that comes from a natural infection without the consequences of a natural infection. Vaccinations save an ever-growing amount of lives every year. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014 due to vaccination (“Vaccine ProCon”).

Millions of lives throughout the world have been saved by vaccines. Childhood vaccinations should be mandatory to reduce the risk of people in a community contracting and spreading deadly diseases. This is important for the good of society. There are reasons why people do not want to vaccinate their child. Some people believe that vaccines can hurt their children more than it can help them and are afraid. Another reason is cultural and religious beliefs. The vaccine controversy outrage nationwide because many people believe vaccinations are important for all society and do not want their child to be at risk of contracting a deadly disease. Vaccinations are not without risks and minor complications, but they provide immunity and disease prevention to the global community.

On June 30, 2015, the California State Senate passed SB 277 and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown to ban personal belief exemptions. Many parents believe that receiving vaccinations would cause their child to have autism or other serious health problems. Andrew Wakefield, a former British gastroenterologist and medical researcher submitted his 1998 research paper to The Lancet, where he claimed that the MMR vaccine causes autism and bowel disease. Other studies were conducted and all of them refuted that the MMR vaccine was linked to autism or autism and other health issues thus discrediting him where he lost his medical license. Two years after the new statewide immunization law was enacted and reached a safe threshold, there were dozens of schools reporting unbelievingly high numbers of medical exemptions. The medical exemptions tripled after SB 277 took effect, which can be as many as 25% of their students are unvaccinated. The measles outbreak at Disney theme parks in California during December 2014 – February 2015 prompted for continued high MMR vaccinations in the United States.