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 linked vaccines with autism. Although it has been proven that Wakefield was a fraud – his medical license was even revoked – the debate rages on. It is incomprehensible that any parent would choose not to vaccinate their child. With the safety of all people in mind, vaccines for children should be mandatory.
Tyler Ludlum, a once healthy 10-year old boy, knows all too well the consequences of being unvaccinated. His carefree summer came to a halt when he contracted meningococcoal meningitis. Meningococcoal meningitis causes swelling of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord and is passed from person to person by exchange of oral and respiratory secretions. At the time he contracted the disease, Tyler was too young to receive the vaccination. Instead he was relying on those around him to be vaccinated. So, why are people choosing not to vaccinate? What could possibly be the arguments for not protecting your children, others, and yourself from deadly, yet preventable, diseases?
Vaccines are ...
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...tially over the past 60 years.
The fact remains that the amount of deaths attributed to vaccines are far less than the amount of deaths attributed to the diseases that the vaccines protect us against. This view is incredibly utilitarian, but if a few people have to die to save a thousand, it is worth it. Herd immunity protects those who are unable to get vaccines due to issues such as allergies to the vaccine, or immune deficiency disorder. If people choose not to vaccinate their children, they are actually putting the lives of those who cannot get vaccines at risk. We are not living solitary lives in this world so we must think of society as a whole rather than just the individual when it comes to health issues. From the perspective of what benefits society as a whole, we can quite obviously see that it should be mandatory for parents to vaccinate their children.
There is a war going on against parents that refuse to vaccinate their children. It is coming from the government that makes and enforces laws requiring parents to vaccinate their children, hostile parents of vaccinated children, and doctors that refuse to see unvaccinated children. They are concerned about the potential health risk unvaccinated children pose to the public. These parents aren’t lunatics but are concerned parents that are trying to make the best choice for their children. In fact, these parents aren’t fighting alone; a number of pediatricians and medical experts are apart of this crusade and have taken the lead. They will tell you there is an agenda, “Vaccine manufacturers, health officials, medical doctors, lead authors of important studies, editors of major medical journals, hospital personnel, and even coroners, cooperate to minimize vaccine failings, exaggerate benefits, and avert any negative publicity that might frighten concerned parents, threaten the vaccine program and lower vaccination rates.” 4
“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.
Vaccinations have been very helpful for all ages of people over many centuries. Vaccinations help protect us from infectious diseases. Most people believe in medicine because it improves people’s health. The first vaccination was performed by Edward Jenner in 1796 stated in the article, “The History of Vaccines And Immunization: Familiar Patterns, New Challenges.” (Stern and Markel n. pag.) Vaccinations have improved tremendously since that time frame. Many people do not believe in vaccinations due to personal opinions like religion or the small effects. Vaccinating should be mandatory for all humans around the world due to the effects, or even death of a infectious diseases. Diseases can be very dangerous for humans to come in contact with. Vaccinations can help prevent people from getting infectious diseases, or even spreading the disease to someone else. Many people do not care about others, when not getting immunizations. People need to have a bigger perspective, when it comes down to yours and others health. Immunizations should be mandatory, no matter what people voice about them. Vaccinations may have downfalls to it like the actual feeling of the shot or side
“Childhood vaccines not only have personal benefits, but for entire communities and the future of public health” (Espejo 1). If a child goes without immunization, then he or she is also putting others at risk. Most parents do not consider all of the options and effects that come along with not having their child vaccinated. Many are quick to reject because of the possible side effects and harm it could cause. However, nothing in today’s world is completely harmless. An adult can easily be in a danger at work, while the child is in danger of disease at daycare. That is why it is completely necessary to vaccinate. By doing this, family, friends, and others are being protected as well (Allen 71). “There are also children who cannot get certain vaccines for medical or other reasons, and those who are too young to be vaccinated. These children have no protection if they are exposed to someone who is infected with a communicable disease” (Espejo 4). Commonly, this is not thought
For centuries different diseases and infections have plagued the human race. As science evolves throughout our history, we’ve figured out how to combat these illnesses effectively, but some still choose to not protect themselves or their children and put the rest of us at risk. Mandatory childhood vaccination is essential for keeping our population safe and building a strong and healthy future. While many support this stance, some also have opposing views to this subject. Some claim that the vaccines pose a dangerous health risk to young children that can amount from anything to a weakened immune system, to developing secondary disease from the vaccine. As well, some see vaccinations as non-effective and don’t see why they should immunize and potentially put their child at risk. Also, anti vaccine parents do not feel they should be held socialy responsible for not protecting their child and putting others at risk. These are legitimate concerns, but if you look at how diseases have been irradiated, the vast amounts of research done, and countless children’s lives saved because of vaccinations, you might ask yourself why people would decide to not protect the ones
Many parents do not want to get their children vaccinated because they are harmful to children, but vaccinations are not as harmful as they think. Parents should have to have their children vaccinated because there are less diseases now since the use of vaccinations, other people that can’t get vaccinated won’t contract any infectious diseases and there are less problems caused from being vaccinated than non-vaccinated. Vaccinations have proven to be useful time and time
...rsonal stance. What about the children who aren’t old enough or healthy enough to be vaccinated? Or the children who have been vaccinated, but the vaccine didn’t work for them? These children depend on the immunity of the people around them to maintain their health. In healthcare terms, this is called, “herd immunity.” A good example of why herd immunity is important would be the case of a 3 week old from Transylvania County whom contracted pertussis or “whooping cough” last September and died from it. (ncdhhs.gov 2013) This child was not old enough to be vaccinated against the disease and solely depended on the immunity of the people around her to keep her safe. When parents opt out of vaccinating their children, they are breaking down the total immunity within their communities thus making these unfortunate people who can’t protect themselves more vulnerable.
Vaccinations are a particular type of disease preventer with a lot flaws. Vaccines should be non-compulsory. people should have a choice if they want to inject their children with an inactive disease that's up to them. No medicine is perfect most of the time vaccines have had a positive outcome on the majority of the world’s population that have had vaccines. Although the percentage of incidents are low they can still be serious. People say vaccines can lead to autism and other symptoms.
“Standard immunization currently averts an estimated two to three million deaths every year in all age groups” (“General Information”). Children along with adults should be vaccinated because these Inoculations prevent diseases, even deaths, from going around, along with keeping the environment a safer place. As people know, kids get vaccinated from the time born to about the time the child reaches teen years, although getting immunized does not precisely stop at any age. In fact, required vaccinations continue throughout the years. Of course these medical treatments must be tested in order to be given to anyone. In spite of the fact many people themselves argue that inoculations are not safe for children, others are thoroughly certain in the benefits vaccinations will bring them, such as keeping a person safe from an illness and healthy. A vaccine is actually put into the body acting as a disease so that when an actual illness try’s to enter the body the body will already be prepared for an “invader” thus, reacting better and quicker. Essentially a vaccine is put into the body to prevent a disease. Most children are very healthy and continue to receive flu shots throughout the years. In many countries getting immunized is already mandatory. Hearing all the benefits and well-designed information of course sounds great but many continue to argue that inoculations are not safe and that studies have shown that vaccinations could cause autism, and a few other couple diseases that a kid may develop after receiving a medical treatment. If that were efficiently accurate a higher range of children would have autism, which at this point’s percentage is very little. Worldwide vaccinations throughout the world should be mandatory in order to...
Every parent must decide whether or not they will vaccinate their child. The medical community advocates for vaccinating children, which will contribute to herd immunity, and help in the eradication of preventable diseases. However there are arguments to be made against vaccinating as well. People are finding that vaccines are not providing long term protection, and are less effective than developing immunity through a natural defense process. Vaccines provide unnecessary exposure to toxins which may be linked to developmental delays. Also some of the side effects and complications associated with various vaccines are proving to be more detrimental than the disease processes they are designed to fight against. Many parents are weighing the cost vs. benefits of vaccinations, and deciding that it isn't worth the risk.
Measles is a disease that causes the child a lot of pain. It is commonly accompanied by a painful itchy rash and fever. At one point in history measles was a very common disease. Now it is rare for a child to get the measles. The decline in the disease has been attributed to vaccinations and their high success rate. According to ‘Childhood Vaccinations are Important for Public Health”, “by vaccinating we will make sure these 14 diseases will not become everyday events for our children...”. There are quite a few reasons why parents do not vaccinate their children. Some believe that it will cause harm to their children because of rumors. Vaccinations are not as dangerous as people make them seem, but not getting vaccinated is. Frances Childs states that “as the number of children who have not been immunized increases, so, too, does the likelihood of measles spreading”. Immunizations work by injecting a small amount of the virus into the patient (both children and adults). The patient’s immune system then builds up antibodies to fight against the virus, thus building immunity against the diseases much more effectively. Vaccinations have a 90-100 percent chance of success. With this high rate of protection, why not get children
Many disease that affected people in the past have been completely wiped out because of vaccines. If you decide to keep your child from being vaccinated, you put other children around them at a big risk for catching a disease they may have. Not having your child vaccinated may result in a long-term disability and it may cost your family both time and money. Many families do not get their children vaccinated because of financial needs, but there is a program that allows low income family to get their children vaccinated. Many people believe that there are harmful side effects when getting vaccinated, but these effects are very rare and do not happen
Each year, about 2.1 million people die from vaccine-preventable diseases. Many children may not receive their necessary first year vaccinations because of lack of availability, religious beliefs, and safety concerns (Healy, Rench, and Baker 540). The dictionary definition of a vaccine is a biological preparation that improves the immunity to a certain disease (Healy, Rench, and Baker 540). Although all 50 States in the United States require children to be vaccinated to certain diseases before entering school, the states also have exemptions for these vaccinations (Lu 870). Parents often choose not to get their children immunized, and it has proven harmful to the health of the global population. It is important for parents to have their children vaccinated against diseases such as measles, mumps, and polio because it is important to promote the welfare of the human race (Parkins 439).
Vaccines are becoming increasingly hazardous for many children and parents are not being informed about the safety of their children. Current reports are linking vaccines to serious life-threatening disorders such as asthma, autism, immune system dysfunction, and mental retardation (Williams). These recent revelations are causing an increasing amount of people to claim religious and medical exemptions from vaccines. From 1999 to 2006, exemptions have more than doubled from 9,722 to 24,919 (Cronin). It is very clear that vaccinations are posing many problems for parents everywhere. Each day researchers are finding out about vaccines and are realizing that there are a lot more risks than benefits. Dr Phillip F. Incao explains: “Today, far more children suffer from allergies and other chronic immune system disorders than from life-threatening infectious disease. It is neither reasonable nor prudent to persist in presuming that the benefits of any vaccination outweigh its risk” (qtd in Spaker). While infectious diseases are becoming uncommon there is no need for any person to get vaccinated.
Those who choose not to vaccinate their children are endangering the health of those unable to be vaccinated themselves, such as infants, pregnant people, and the immunocompromised, by jeopardizing community immunity. According to vaccine.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, community immunity or “herd immunity” occurs when “a critical portion of the community is immunized against a contagious disease, most members of the community are protected against that disease because there is little opportunity for an outbreak” (Community Immunity). An infographic featured in an NPR article entitled “How Vaccine Fears Fueled the Resurgence of Preventable Diseases” illustrated the rise in measles cases in Western Europe and of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the U.S (Doucleff). In the first eight months of 2014, there were eighteen measles outbreaks, and six hundred cases of measles. This is incredibly dangerous because outbreaks give these diseases the opportunity to evolve and become resistant to vaccines, putting even vaccinated children at risk (Harmon). Parents making the decision not to vaccinate are doing so out of a place that all parents share: a desire to keep their children healthy. However, these anti-vaxxers are basing their decision not on