Disease prevention is the key to a healthy community. Vaccines are one of modern medicine’s greatest achievements. Most of the childhood disease that were once common are now increasingly rare. The once feared and deadly disease, smallpox, is now eradicated thanks to vaccines (“Disease Eradication”). The modern world, especially the United States, knows nothing of the horrible diseases vaccines immunize us against. S. Jay Olshanksy’s study found that vaccines have caused 4.5 billion virus cases to be averted and an additional 10.3 million lives to be saved since vaccines became commonplace in 1962. Vaccines may soon even be able to prevent ear infections (Hitti). Vaccinations are a topic for debate, especially among parents, but they shouldn’t …show more content…
This rumor that vaccines are the cause for the rise in autism spectrum disorders first grabbed attention and made headlines in 1998. When Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a British gastroenterologist, and 12 of his colleagues published their study of 12 children in The Lancet, a well-known medical journal (Rao, Andrade). Their study linked the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) combo vaccine with intestinal problems that he believed caused autism. On February 2010 Dr. Wakefield’s paper was officially retracted by The Lancet (Rao, Andrade). The General Medical Council in the United Kingdom even stripped Wakefield of his ability to practice medicine for his, “deceitfulness and irresponsibility” in the paper published (Haberman). Dr. Sanjay Gupta shut …show more content…
The UK’s measles outbreak of 2012 was the result (Shute). After the release of the study, people believed what was published, panicked, and stopped vaccinating; vaccination rates fell below 50 percent (Shute). Those who caught the measles in 2012 were identified as the children not vaccinated after the study in 1998 (Shute). Herd immunity is extremely important to communities, and essential to modern civilization. Herd immunity can effectively stop the spread of disease, but only if the majority of the population is vaccinated (CDC). If less than 90 percent of the population in a community vaccinates, it creates opportunity for infectious diseases to spread (Immunize for Good, Respect the Facts). This immunity is not only important for yourself, but it has an impact of those around you as well. Newborns are too young to immunize; the elderly are too vulnerable and some of the population are allergic or have immune systems too weak for vaccines. Not everyone is able to be vaccinated, but everyone depends on vaccinations (“Immunize for Good, Respect the Facts”). Many people depend on the ‘cocooning’ affect that the herd immunity provides. For these vulnerable people, herd immunity is vital in protecting them from life-threatening diseases (“Immunize for Good, Respect the
“Vaccinations are causing a major upsurge in childhood diseases, adult maladies, and even deadly ailments such as Gulf War Syndrome and Lou Gehrig’s disease” (Blaylock). Every now and then an individual’s doctor calls telling them about the latest vaccine they should receive. The person immediately schedules a time to come in and get it done. But do they even give a second thought about it? Have they ever thought that maybe they do not need another vaccination? Many people have not taken the time to seriously think about the process of immunization. The truth is, there are many dangers that the average person should be unaware of. Rarely do vaccines actually accomplish what the public has been told. In fact, a lot of vaccines contain harmful substances that have been linked to disorders such as autism. The lack of education and dishonesty from doctors are putting people in danger of health problems without even realizing. Many parents feel obligated for their children to get vaccinated because of school, not knowing they have the alternative option of refusing immunization.
Why would anyone want to leave their child at risk of developing a sickness that could easily be preventable? Some people believe that vaccines do not work and are only harmful; they are wrong. Vaccines can be helpful not only to the child of the concerned parent, but also the children of other parents as well. Parents should vaccinate their children because it prevents illnesses, rarely has negative effects, and vaccines have increased the human lifespan. If an illness is preventable, parents should ensure that their children are getting the medical protection available.
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 led to the near removal of wild polio virus. Vaccines have reduced some preventable infectious diseases to an all-time low, and now few people experience the devastating effects of measles, pertussis, and other illnesses.
Vaccines work. They have kept infants healthy and have saved millions of lives for more than 50 years. Most childhood vaccines are 90% to 99% effective in preventing disease so why would you keep such an advantage away from your child? “ Vaccines are made with a tiny amount of dead or weakened germs. They help the immune system learn how to protect itself against disease. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to keep your child from getting very sick from the real disease.” (healthycanadians.gc.ca).When the word vaccination comes to mind the first thing that should come to our minds is life saving, helpful, and beneficial. Unfortunately not all people would think positively when it comes to vaccinations, they think of the worst that could happen. I understand they want to know the cons to getting the vaccine for their infant, but information can show you that pros outweigh the cons. Vaccinations can not only protect an infant but it goes as far as saving their lives. Society has a strong influence on people 's decisions. In this case society and parental beliefs get in the way of infants well beings.
Vaccinations have been used since 1796, when Edward Jenner created the first vaccine for smallpox (Alexandra). Since then, vaccines have destroyed several viruses such as smallpox and polio. Vaccines were not required of students attending schools until 1855, when Massachusetts enforced a vaccination law for smallpox. By 1920, over half of the United States passed vaccination laws requiring school children to receive a smallpox vaccination. Smallpox would later be eliminated in 1980. After the elimination of smallpox, many other life-threatening diseases would be discovered.
Mumps, Measles, Whooping Cough, Smallpox, Polio and, Diphtheria are all deadly diseases that were once a death sentence to children and adults around the world, but there is something that can help combat these fatal diseases. Vaccinations can change the course of these lethal diseases, but some families are still refusing to vaccinate the future of the world. Vaccinations can not only be beneficial to the child itself but to rest of humanity as well. There is evidence that goes against false claims bashing vaccination and the positive effects of vaccination overrule all of the negative. Vaccination can have a positive effect on the world due to its life-saving properties, effects on humanity and the extensive amount of safety and care that
...s teacher, classmates, friends and family members at risk. Immunization and vaccines save millions of lives each year. Vaccines imitate infection, but do not cause illness, what they do is cause the immune system to produce T-lymphocytes, antibodies and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that disease in the future. The bacteria and virus’ that cause life threatening diseases still exist, but because of vaccination, there are 90% less cases of these illnesses in America today. Less than 1% of children have severe side effects to vaccinations. In the recent past many celebrities have chosen to voice their opinions regarding vaccinations. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has done extensive research on the link between the rise in the cases of Autism and vaccinations, since Wakefield’s 1998 study and has found vaccinations to be safe and effective.
America looks at disease as a war. Illness is the enemy, vaccinations are the weapons, and the unfortunate cost is that some innocent civilians may lose their lives. A vaccine is a substance used to provide immunity against a disease. In some cases, vaccines have done more harm than good. Ignoring this fact, vaccines are mandatory in every state, and some states are trying to take away the parent’s right to deny them. The disadvantages, diseases, and disabilities caused by vaccines justify the parent’s right to decide against the risk of vaccination.
These repercussions can last decades as seen in the Wakefield case. Since Wakefield released his study, the MMR combination vaccination rates have dropped dramatically with cases of measles on the rise around the world exposing millions. The number of measles outbreaks in the UK rose from 56, the year the study was released, to 1,400 in 2008 (Ahearn, 2010). With more people choosing to not vaccinate that number is expected to rise. As one can see, these studies do no disappear overnight even if they are retracted. Often, people tend to be strong willed and will be suspicious of the legitimacy of the new study and refuse to believe anything else as the previous study was embedded in them for years. With medical journals and articles being just a click away, it is more than important to be weary of fraudulent and inaccurate studies releasing false information to the public. Spreading false, misleading information opens dangerous doors in the healthcare field, from epidemics and outbreaks to a misinformed panicking public believing they can receive viruses such as Ebola although they are 1,000’s of miles away from the infected
This genuine concern can go several directions. Some parents are convinced that the inventions of vaccines were made to prevent human-to-human transmitted diseases that can cause serious long-term health complications. While other parents believe that it is the vaccines that pose a greater risk to their child’s health. The truth is that the introduction of a vaccine has, in many cases, led to a very large decrease in the incidence of the targeted disease--such as the 96% decrease in the incidence of polio that occurred within 7 years of the introduction of the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines. Vaccines have changed our way of life, in many areas of the world. Diseases such as polio, measles and rubella are no longer a threat, and the eradication of smallpox alone has saved hundreds of millions of lives. (Nature Reviews Microbiology,
Vaccinations, a miracle medical invention encompassing a variety of diseases, is what has been used to keep people safe, healthy, and disease free. The creation of vaccinations helped minimize the spread of some of the world's most feared diseases such as polio, and measles. Even with all the evidence supporting vaccine use is very promising, nothing is ever 100%. There are always risk, or in reference to medicine there are always side effects. With multiple sources of information floating around about how safe vaccines are, their effectiveness, and the occurrence of side effects it makes sense that so many people are confused. There are so many heuristics and biases that could impair a person from making the best decision for themselves.
In the United States, a study in 2011 found that 57% of people who do not vaccinate their children say that they have concerns about autism (Levs). The anti-vaccination movement has gained traction in the past couple of years, with more and more parents not vaccinating. The first vaccine was developed way back in 1796, and the polio vaccine was made in 1950, which helped start to eradicate one of the deadliest diseases in the world. This sudden distrust of vaccinations has not come up suddenly in the past few years. It has been developing due to to massive misinformation surrounding vaccinations. Medical professionals need to educate people on vaccinations by spreading information such as giving information to parents about vaccinations, disproving the idea that vaccines cause autism, and educating people of the risks of not vaccinating.
Vaccines have been responsible for reducing the effects and spread of infectious diseases such as small pox, polio, and measles. Controversy over vaccinations have existed from their very invention; Arguments against them have been rooted in religion, ethical and political beliefs, and perhaps more common today is self-interest/self-education. Scientific findings overwhelmingly support the use of vaccinations and refute claims that they cause things like autism or gastrointestinal deficiencies. Vaccines not only prevent disease for the individual receiving it, but if a large enough percentage of the population is vaccinated, protection can exist for even the most at risk members
Ever since the first vaccine for smallpox was invented over 200 years ago, there has been plenty of controversy over children receiving vaccinations (Smith & Bouck, 2009). It seems to be a delicate balance between personal liberty and public health. Every parent is concerned for their child’s health and todays parents want more information. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate should be an informed choice and not one made from fear (Glanz, Kraus, & Daley, 2014). Edward Jenner invented the first vaccine for smallpox in 1796 which, according to the World Health Organization (2015), eradicated the disease worldwide by 1980. A vaccine is “a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease” (CDC, 2014, para.
According to World Book Advanced Encyclopedia, immunization is defined as the process of protecting the body against disease by means of vaccines or serums (Hinman). While medical science backs up the efficiency and necessity of vaccines, within the past decade, a rise in parents disbelieving the medical community and neglecting to immunize their children has occurred. This “fear of vaccines” is nothing new, but with the ever-increasing safety of vaccines, the benefits of inoculation far outweigh the risks. Parents who refuse to vaccinate, or anti-vaxxers, put more than their children’s lives on the line, but also risk the safety of the whole community. Because vaccines are essential to protecting individuals and communities